An untimely visit to Germany when his state is battling the worst floods in close to a century may cost forest minister K. Raju his cabinet post. His party, the CPI, is likely to withdraw him from the ministry after his tour sparked off an outrage in the state.
The minister had gone to Germany on August 16 reportedly to attend the global conference of World Malayali Council.
"His travel to Germany at this moment suggested a kind of indifference that the CPI found unacceptable," sources in the party told Onmanorama. However, there was no official confirmation from the CPI leadership on the likely action against Raju.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was scheduled to leave for the US for treatment, had cancelled his journey to coordinate the rescue and rehabilitation operations.
Flash floods and and series of landslides triggered by incessant rains have left a trail of destruction in the tourist state with more than two lakh people forced into relief camps in various districts.
Government said the floods had destroyed 26,000 houses and damaged crops across as much as 40,000 hectares, with estimated losses of Rs 277 billion.