THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pressure is mounting on finance minister K M Mani to step down as fissures appeared in the UDF on Friday, a day after vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) named him as the first accused in the FIR in the bar bribery case.
The opposition parties strengthened their attack and stalled Assembly proceedings with leader V S Achuthanandan demanding immediate arrest of Mani. A string of protests was also witnessed across the state indicating that the Left parties would resort to street drama forcing the government to act immediately. An Assembly march is planned on Monday.
Though the Congress leadership is trying to put up a brave face, dissenting voices were heard within the party and other UDF constituents about Mani's continuance in the cabinet. Many senior Congress leaders are of the view that Mani's continuance is morally wrong.
Even the leading trio of chief minister Oommen Chandy, home minister Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president VM Sudheeran is apprehensive how the events will snowball in coming days, sources said.
"They are fully aware that the vigilance has covered considerable ground and this reflects in the 270-page report prepared after the quick verification process. The UDF leadership is aware that there isn't any room for wriggling out of the case,'' sources said.
Given Sudheeran's staunch anti-graft stand, he won't be able to refrain from launching a frontal attack if more evidence tumbles out or VACB slaps a chargesheet on Mani.
Making it more uncomfortable for Mani, dissident voices surfaced within the Kerala Congress (M) with senior leader Francis George terming it as an unfortunate situation''.
Talking to reporters on Friday, George reminded that the Kerala Congress movement began as an initiative to fight corruption''. Kerala Congress (B) and Kerala Congress (Jacob) are not supporting Mani on the issue, sources said.
The Congress is also worried that Mani's resignation would lead to disintegration of his party, eventually affecting the stability of Chandy government. In fact, incidents over the past two days have strained relations between the two parties.
All leaders who spoke at the parliamentary party meeting of the KC(M) alleged that Congress failed to stand by Mani at his time of crisis. Chief whip P C George repeated his allegation that there is political conspiracy. There is no need for resignation as only an FIR has been registered,'' said CF Thomas, MLA.
Sensing a bitter fallout, home minister Chennithala had a closed door meeting with Mani on Friday evening. Chennithala termed it as "an official meeting". There is nothing extraordinary in two ministers having a discussion,'' he said.
Sources said that Chennithala explained the circumstances that led to the registration of the FIR and has pledged all support to Mani.
http://ift.tt/1tVUeeW S Achuthanandan,Ramesh Chennithala,Kerala Congress,K M Mani,(VACB)
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