Controversies seem to be haunting the CPI (M)-led LDF government in Kerala. In the latest, it is Electricity Minister MM Mani’s turn to face the brunt.
A trial court in Thodupuzha in Idukki district dismissed a petition filed Mani on Friday, seeking to discharge the charges against him in Anchery Baby murder case of 1982.
Mani, who was only recently elevated as the minister after EP Jayarajan’s exit from the ministry, will now have to face the trial, as he is the second accused in the murder of the Youth Congress man.
The case was re-opened in 2012, after one of Mani’s public speeches went over the top, with the leader “boasting” that the party has many a time resorted to “eliminate” political rivals.
The Minister has, however, chosen to see the turn of events as “politically motivated,” and told journalists that he would appeal in the High Court.
Even as party’s state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan made every possible attempt at “protecting” the minister, the opposition was quick to demand Mani’s resignation. Kodiyeri said that there was no room for Mani’s resignation, as the said case was not a new one.
Former Chief Minister of the state Oommen Chandy demanded Mani’s resignation on moral grounds.
“Though morality cannot be imposed on anybody, it is better that Mani resign from the cabinet as he stands as one of the accused in a murder case now,” he was quoted as saying by media reports.
Oommen Chandy also accused the ruling Left government of constantly demanding the resignation of ministers from the previous UDF government, whenever complaints of corruption emerged.
“When it comes to the case of a CPM minister now, it has no such `moral ground'. This is the double standard of the CPM on such matters,” Chandy said.
KPCC President VM Sudheeran urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to oust the minister from the cabinet.
At a press conference held in Mavelikkara, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said,
“The precedence in our state is all who were arraigned as accused in criminal cases had to quit. R Balakrishna Pillai, K Karunakaran and K M Mani followed that precedent.While they had been named as accused in FIR, the CPM led protests seeking their resignations. It is the prosecution which demanded Mani's resignation and the government should do justice to prosecution.”