Pinarayi treads troubled waters over Mullaperiyar remark

Pinarayi Vijayan, on his first visit to Delhi after taking over as Kerala Chief Minister, indicated a shift in the state’s position on Mullaperiyar dam. Talking to media persons, Vijayan said the Tamil Nadu government's report on reinforcing the dam structure should not be dismissed and sentiments in the name of the dam are most uncalled for.

He also added that both states should have bilateral talks to solve the issue and Tamil Nadu should not raise the water level. 

However, the Chief Minister's comments have not gone down well with the Congress and the Mullaperiyar Samara Samiti (people's representatives). Congress leader VD Satheeshan said Pinarayi Vijayan's stance is a betrayal of what was promised in the LDF manifesto and the all party memorandum  submitted before the Centre during the tenure of  UDF government seeking support to construct a new dam. 

Father Joy Nirappel, chairman of the joint action council demanding for a new dam, said they will meet the Chief Minister to press the need for a new dam. 

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) vice-president VD Satheesan also has come out heavily against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and said the CM has taken a deceiving stand on the Mullaperiyar dam issue. 

Satheeshan criticised the Chief Minister and said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is deviating from their election manifesto. The election manifesto of the LDF promised to build a new dam in Mullaperiyar and within three days of assuming power. 'The government had gone back on its word violating the promise they made to the people of Kerala,' Satheesan said in his Facebook post.