Kerala Congress leader R. Balakrishna Pillai’s emergency parole may get delayed as the jail department here is planning to seek Election Commission’s clearance before taking a decision on the issue.
Even though Kollam Social Welfare department had sent a favourable report to jail authorities on Friday night and the chances of Mr Pillai getting emergency parole had brightened on Saturday, the decision was held back following instructions from the higher ups.
Now, the authorities have decided to send Mr Pillai’s file to ADGP prisons for further action.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Kerala Congress B and Mr Pillai’s close relatives alleged that the jail authorities had deliberately delayed his parole in view of CPI(M)’s decision to field V.S. Achuthanandan in the elections.
The jail officials fear that any hasty decision on the issue could invite Mr Acthuthanandan’s wrath. The CM had played a key role in bringing Mr Pillai to justice in the Idamalayar case and he considered Mr Pillai’s conviction as some sort of personal victory for his fight against corruption.
Mr Pillai is undergoing one-year rigorous imprisonment. He had sought emergency parole citing poor health of his wife as a reason.
A few days back Mr Pillai went on a hunger strike demanding medical facilities inside the jail and complained of skin infection because of heat. Based on the recommendation of a panel of doctors that examined him, an air cooler was provided in his room.
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Triumphant CM to begin campaign tomorrow
AGE correspondent
kozhikode
March 19: Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan, fresh from his triumph over the party’s official leadership, will reach his constituency in Malampuzha on March 21 to kick off his campaign.
The 87-year-old veteran leader will attend the Left Democratic Front election convention at the Palakkad Town hall in the morning. He will then leave for Peralasseri in Kannur to attend the AKG Day observance on Tuesday.
Mr Achuthanandan will also attend LDF conventions in Taliparamba, Kannur, Cheemeni and Uduma in Kasargod on March 23. In fact, his campaign managers are finding it difficult to schedule his programme as there is huge demand from all constituencies.