Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State leadership has sought time for discussions with their national leadership before a decision on the demand for Transport Minister Thomas Chandy's resignation is taken.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting here, in which Mr. Chandy was also present, that NCP State president T.P. Peethambaran Master and Mr. Chandy had met him early this morning and told him that they would get back to him after discussing the issue with the NCP national leadership. “This should happen in a little while from now and he should get information from them after that,” Mr. Vijayan said.
The LDF, he pointed out, had decided last week that the Chief Minister should take a decision based on what the NCP tells him about the demand for Mr. Chandy's resignation. "Still, a decision could be taken on the High Court verdict and other issues after discussions with NCP leadership. They were in Kochi on Wednesday. They met me this morning. We discussed the issues in detail. They have sought time to discuss the matter with their national leadership. I cannot take the stand that they should not do that. They have promised to get back to me on completion of their discussions," the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Vijayan termed “quite unprecedented” the CPI Minsiters' decision to boycot the Cabinet meeting. He said Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan had sent in a letter to him, while the Cabinet meeting was in progress, saying that their party had decided to boycott the Cabinet meeting if Mr. Chandy was participating in the meeting. “Under no circumstance should anyone stay away from the Cabinet meeting. Cabinet meeting is meant to discuss all issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chandy said he will be meeting Mr. Vijayan again later in the day.
