Following row over personal staff pension, Kerala Guv wants new Benz

Thiruvananthapuram: Governor Arif Mohammed has taken flaks over his requirement of new Mercedes-Benz.

Earlier the Governor stirred up a row criticizing Kerala ministers' personal staff taking lifelong pension for only two years' service.

Now the Governor has found himself in the eye of a storm over a brand-new Mercedes-Benz.

The file for new car, costing Rs 85 lakhs, has come up before CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

Earlier, the Governor peeved at Kerala having the highest number of personal staff to ministers.

This is alongside pointing out that upwards of 20 staff members is a huge financial burden to the state.

He has called for all the files related to the appointments of personal staff, saying that he will seriously look into the matter and do the needful.

After talking tough about the exchequer loss, the Governor's demand for the new luxury car flies in the face of his criticism of ministers' personal staff.

The Governor's office reasons that as per the VVIP travel protocol, any car which has done in excess of 1 lakh km has to be replaced.

The present Mercedes-Benz is over a decade old and has done 1.5 lakh km travelling, reports say.