Demand for resignation of Chief Minister, Home Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI (M) and BJP today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennnithala on Sunday.

The demand is in view of criticism from courts against the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. The Bureau is functioning under the Home Minister.

Kerala High Court had observed that the Vigilance was not vigilant enough. Question was also raised how the Vigilance police could carry on with their investigation when the Chief Minister had declared that that K. M. Mani, who resigned as Finance Minister, was innocent of bribe-taking.

The Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance), Thrissur, had strongly criticised the functioning of the Bureau on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the resignation of K. Babu as Excise Minister has intensified friction between groups in Congress.  Mr. Babu had resigned without informing KPCC president who had said that the court observations were very serious. Mr. Babu justified this saying that as Minister he needed inform only the Chief Minister. Only KPCC Officers bearers should be meeting the KPCC president when resigning.

There is feeling in the ‘A’ group that inaction of the Vigilance had done the Minister in. The Court had asked the Bureau to register case as the quick verification was not being completed within the mandatory 42-day period.