Malappuram should get priority in discussions on district reorganisation, says Minister

Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar has said that Malappuram should get priority if new districts are formed in Keralam.

Responding to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s statement that a new district would be formed with Muvattupuzha as its headquarters, Mr. Anil Kumar, who represents the Wandoor constituency in the Assembly, said that Malappuram had the State’s largest population and one of its largest geographical areas. “Its size and population warranted priority in any discussion on district reorganisation,” he said.

Mr. Anil Kumar also rejected Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) general secretary P.M.A. Salam’s allegation that the government was discriminating against Malappuram. The district has been receiving the development projects it is entitled to, he said.

Mr. Salam had said Malappuram needed more villages and taluks in proportion to its population. He had also called for the division of all districts with large populations.