Thiruvananthapuram: CM V D Satheesan made it clear that his govt had no plans to continue Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS) the way in which the previous LDF govt did, amid reports that it had decided to retain the diaspora platform and sanctioned Rs 2 crore for its activities. Satheesan said on Monday that this was a political decision taken by UDF that won’t change. He added that govt had not earmarked a rupee for the conduct of the sixth edition of LKS.The CMO gave a clarification amid reports, based on a GO issued by Norka on Sept 15, that govt had accorded administrative sanction for LKS plan for 2026-27 with an allocation of Rs 2 crore. The order did not specifically sanction anything for the conduct of LKS. It set aside Rs 50 lakh for LKS Secretariat, Rs 1 crore for implementation of LKS recommendations and Rs 50 lakh for Norka’s professional and business leadership meet.“LKS Secretariat has an office. Funds have been sanctioned only for its administrative expenses and for programmes, including the business leadership meet conducted through Norka. Pravasi welfare schemes are among the top priorities. The amount was sanctioned for the preliminary work to implement such proposals,” said the CMO. The order said LKS Secretariat is the administrative support mechanism for LKS and facilitates activities related to it.The CMO’s clarification effectively draws a distinction between continuing LKS as a periodic assembly and retaining its administrative machinery and implementing measures related to the diaspora. The GO said LKS was constituted as a platform to discuss matters concerning Keralites living outside the state and within Kerala.Satheesan’s statement made it clear that maintaining LKS Secretariat and undertaking diaspora-related programmes cannot be construed as a decision to convene another edition. The issue gained political significance because Satheesan and his party had opposed LKS when UDF was in opposition.
