Viswam said the aircraft and helicopters used by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan for official travel are sponsored by anonymous financial powers, calling the arrangement an embarrassment for the state of Kerala.
He added that other ministers are following the chief minister’s lead by abandoning government‑provided vehicles in favour of waiting for ultra‑luxurious cars owned by the same moneyed elite, a practice he described as pandering to the wealthy.
Viswam urged citizens to demand transparency on whether ministers have complied with mandatory legal protocols when travelling abroad, suggesting that the current arrangements may bypass established rules.
The CPI leader criticised the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s defence that accepting such freebies saves public money, labeling it a “bizarre argument” that has become a trademark of the coalition.
He also condemned the chief minister’s attempt to portray these “modern‑day oddities” as a new form of Nehruvian socialism, noting that even genuine Congress members who uphold the Gandhi‑Nehru legacy expressed disbelief at the justification.