The United Democratic Front (UDF) will respect the court verdict in the bar bribery case, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said. However, the verdict would not make any crisis in the government, he added.
Addressing the UDF election campaign at various places in the district on Friday, he said the Left front had taken a negative approach in poll campaign as it did not have anything particular to highlight. They were opposing all development projects, he alleged.
“The court’s observation and verdict in the bar bribery case should be observed carefully. The LDF started preparation for the protest even before the court pronounced the verdict,” he said. The Chief Minister also ruled out his resignation in the wake of the verdict.
“There was a case against me when I took charge as Chief Minister. The Opposition sought my resignation even then. But court acquitted me,” he said.
He cited the resignation of former forest minister K.P. Viswanathan following a court verdict. “It was quiet unfortunate. He was acquitted later. However it was a great setback for his political career,” he added.
The current UDF government had faced many serious issues. But the unity in the front helped us to survive all of them, he said.
“The UDF government has brought many development projects including Kochi metro, Smart City, Vizhinjam port, Kannur airport and Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode light metro project,” he said.
He said an amount of Rs.1,400 crore had been distributed to three lakh people under the Karunya Benevolent Fund and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
“The Opposition leader accuses me of taking a bribe of Rs. 6,000 crore in the Vizhinjam project. When the total project cost is Rs.7,535 crore, how can I take a bribe of Rs. 6,000 crore,” he asked.
The Chief Minister addressed election campaigns in Kadukutty, Mala, Irinjalakuda, Kodungallur, Wadakkanchery and Chelakkara on Friday.
