Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar’s attempts to favour fossil fuel-powered buses instead of electric buses for the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) soon after taking charge received some major pushback from within the Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Friday. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA V.K. Prasanth fired the first salvo, followed by Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran and CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan, all of whom firmly indicated that electric buses are the way forward for the KSRTC as far as city services are concerned.
When asked about the Minister’s comments during a press conference, Mr. Govindan said that KSRTC’s electric shift was part of a clear policy decision. “The Cabinet runs things, not the Minister. The LDF will not withdraw any service that is beneficial to the public. This is not an issue concerning one Minister. The entire Cabinet is involved in these decisions,” said Mr. Govindan.
