Kerala UDF MPs Clash Over Credit for Vistadome Coach on Train

The dispute over the Vistadome coach for the Madurai-Guruvayur Express escalated after a member of Kodikunnil Suresh’s personal staff criticised N.K. Premachandran’s approach to pursuing the proposal.

Abdullah Azad posted a veiled criticism targeting Premachandran, saying that merely submitting formal representations to the authorities was not enough without consistent follow-ups. He added that true public service required active and persistent tracking of proposals.

The remarks intensified an open disagreement between the United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs over who should receive credit for securing the specialised tourist-friendly railway coach for Kerala.

Premachandran cites years of follow-up

Premachandran later told the media that his relentless efforts over several years had led to the achievement. He said he had been lobbying for the Vistadome coach since becoming a Lok Sabha member.

According to Premachandran, he secured initial assurances from the Central railway authorities by highlighting the tourism potential of the Kollam region. His claim places the focus on the follow-up work and representations made to railway authorities over the proposal.

The dispute began when Premachandran and Suresh used social media to claim that they had been instrumental in bringing the coach to Kerala. Their competing claims triggered a public tug-of-war between the two leaders.

Suresh links coach to train service

Rejecting Premachandran’s claim, Suresh asserted that he had laid the groundwork for the train service itself. He cited his tenure as a former Union Minister and said he had helped introduce the Punalur-Guruvayur train in 2013.

Suresh argued that the Vistadome coach was a natural follow-up to the train service he had secured through his efforts. His position is that the coach should be viewed in the context of the earlier train service and the work he attributes to himself in bringing it into operation.

Suresh dismissed the criticism and said he worked solely for the needs of the public. He added that nobody had any reason to feel jealous or find fault with his achievements.

Source: The Hindu