In an attempt to put pressure on the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] national leaders who are in the State for the Polit Bureau and central committee meetings, the Congress party has stepped up its demand for the ouster of Electricity Minister M.M. Mani, who is second accused in a murder case, and a probe into Chief Minister Pinaryi Vijayan’s role in the nepotism case.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala shot off an open letter to CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury asking him to direct the Chief Minister to remove Mr. Mani. Mr. Chennithala, referring to former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s letter questioning the morality of Mr. Mani continuing in office, said that it (the letter) had served to highlight the concern of the people reflected in debates in public domain about the involvement of the CPI(M) in political murders.
But CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan ruled out Mr. Mani’s resignation on the basis of the court verdict since the case was pending even before he became an MLA and Minister.
In the case of Mr. Jayarajan, KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran came out strongly against the CPI(M) leaders for protecting him out of the way. This very act had made their so-called campaign against corruption sound hollow, he said while reacting to the Vigilance court’s order to continue the probe into the charges of nepotism.
Mr. Chennithala, while addressing a party meeting, wanted a wider probe into Mr. Vijayan’s role in the controversial appointment made by Mr. Jayarajan since the relevant government files showed that he was in the know of the developments.
The timing of Congress leaders’ statements is significant as it comes at a time when the CPI(M) central committee, which is in session, is expected to discuss the fate of Mr. Mani on the basis of Mr. Achuthanandan’s letter. The central committee is also expected to take a view on Mr. Jayarajan and P.K. Sreemathy’s conduct in the appointment of Mr. Sudheer Nambiar, the latter’s son.
