Controversy erupts in Kerala over cost of bus to be used for "Nava Kerala Sadasu"

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], November 18 : A political controversy has erupted in Kerala over a bus that is being made for the travel of the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other state ministers during the "Nava Kerala Sadasu ", which will start at Kasaragod district of the state on Saturday.
"Nava kerala Sadasu" is the outreach programme of the government, where the chief minister and ministers will be travelling through all assembly constituencies of the state.
The criticism of the opposition parties is over the cost of the bus. 1.05 crore has been spent on the Benz bus to convert it into a caravan, the Opposition has alleged
Opposition leader VD Satheeshan has criticised the "extravaganza" on "Nava Kerala Sadasu" and for purchasing a luxury bus at a time when there is a financial crisis in the state. BJP leaders also criticised the government for this .
Transport Minister Antony Raju, however, has defended the move, saying that the allegation that the bus is luxurious is baseless. "If the 21 ministers, including the Chief Minister, travel in their vehicles and escorts, there will be around 70-75 vehicles," the minister said.
"You know KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) itself has Benz buses. KSRTC has 8 Volvo buses, which are 1.38 lakh each. There is no need to run so many cars; they can all go in one bus," Anthon Raju added.
Defending the move, Finance Minister KN Balagopal said, "We are now going to the constituencies to meet the people and the entire cabinet is going in a bus. A transport bus that was purchased for the service of KSRTC will be used after this journey as a transport bus."