With a case of corruption now registered against him, Kerala’s Finance Minister K.M. Mani should resign from the Cabinet instead of continuing to protest his innocence in the face of escalating allegations. Mr. Mani, the leader of the Kerala Congress (M), a key constituent of the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front, is entitled to his hope and faith that he would be proven innocent in the probe being conducted by a special cell of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. But political propriety demands that he step down, and not give room for suspicion that he could misuse his office to scuttle the investigation. The case, registered after a preliminary inquiry into the allegation and recording of the statements of several people including Mr. Mani, is that the Finance Minister had accepted Rs.1 crore as bribe from the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners’ Association for help in the reopening of bars in the State. For Mr. Mani to take cover under the argument that in the past similar cases had been registered against several Ministers in the State is unacceptable. If people’s confidence in the government is not to be shaken, Mr. Mani will have to step aside till his name is cleared in the investigation.
The UDF government headed by Oommen Chandy is functioning with a razor-thin majority, and there is some concern that these allegations might possibly have something to do with attempts at toppling the government. The KC (M) has in the past switched allegiance from one front to another, and the party remains in a position to bring down the government. Some of the KC (M) functionaries see the political insecurity of a section of the Congress leadership as being behind the troubles of Mr. Mani. But, whether or not Mr. Mani was framed by his political rivals will be known only at the end of a comprehensive investigation into the charges of bribery. There is little to be gained by floating conspiracy theories of devious political machinations, and playing the injured victim. Chief Minister Chandy is in no position to dictate terms to Mr. Mani or the KC (M). But the longer he takes to act decisively on this issue, the sooner he will surrender the political advantage to the opposition Left Democratic Front, which is spearheading an agitation on this very issue. Mr. Chandy might be buying time, but doing nothing in the face of such serious allegations against one of his senior colleagues is certainly not an option. One of the reasons the Congress lost power at the Centre was its unwillingness to drop Ministers of allied parties facing corruption. If Mr. Mani will not go on his own, Mr. Chandy will have to show him the door.
