VS Achuthanandan wants expenses of Sonia's Kerala visit to be met by Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow on a two-day visit packed with political and official engagements, CPI(M) veteran and state opposition leader V S Achuthanandan wants the government to ensure that expenses of her visit are fully met by the Congress party.

In a letter to Chief Secretary E K Bharatbhushan, he said Gandhi's programmes included launch of two state sponsored programmes although she was not holding any "official position" to inaugurate them.

He said spending money from the exchequer for her travel, security and publicity would amount to serious breach of protocol and relevant rules and it was for the Chief Secretary to ensure that this was avoided.

The CPI(M) leader also alleged that the official programmes of Gandhi--launch of a scheme for providing land for the landless and a public healthcare project for children -- were envisaged by the ruling Congress-led UDF with the coming Lok Sabha polls in view.