Oommen Chandy: Changes in liquor policy final

Chandy said the liquor policy was diluted for public interest and practicality.

After ensuring the support of the Congress legislators in the diluted liquor policy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there won’t be any further review of the policy, which was tweaked with “a realistic approach.”

Chandy made clear his stand against the back drop of party state president V M Sudheeran asserting that he would go ahead the campaign against the new policy. The issue had emerged as a show of strength between Chandy and Sudheeran.

Sudheeran, who advocates for total prohibition, had stated that the changes in the new liquor policy were brought in under the influence external forces.

Last week, Chandy government had diluted its new liquor policy, which allowed all non-five star bar hotels to run beer and wine parlours. The decision stemmed from reports that the tough stand in the liquor policy had affected the trade and labour sectors.

As the issue has been snowballing into a major crisis in the party and UDF government, Chandy on Monday met Congress legislators. Both A and I groups in the party stood united behind Chandy in his battle of bottle against Sudheeran.

Congress parliamentary party secretary Benny Behanan said all legislators endorsed the changes in the new liquor policy.

Subsequently, Chandy issued an article to the media, in which he answered to all questions raised by Sudheeran. “The changes in the liquor policy were adopted after deliberation. They are final. There won’t be any further changes,’’ he said, in an indirect reply to Sudheeran’s stand the changes were brought in without consulting the party.

Story continues below this ad

Chandy said the liquor policy was diluted for public interest and practicality. The closure of bars had left several families to the brinks of collapse. As many as 24,787 bar workers had lost job. The tourism industry was hit as 5354 room bookings for this season were cancelled, he said.

In the meantime, Latin Catholic Church in Kerala took a soft approach towards the changes in the liquor policy, which gave a big cheers to beer. Church head in Kerala Bishop Francis Kallarackal said the government is free to make changes.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram