Bar bribery case: KC(M) leaves it to KM Mani to decide on his resignation
Thiruvananthapuram: KC(M), a key partner in the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala, on Tuesday left it to its leader and Finance Minister K M Mani to take a call on the demand for his resignation in the wake of adverse High Court observations against him in the bar bribery case. The decision assumes significance in the wake of reports that Mani, against whom an FIR has been registered in connection with the case, has offered to resign.
"A decision on the matter will be announced today itself", C F Thomas, Kerala Congress(M) leader and a confidant of Mani, told reporters after a crucial steering committee meeting that discussed the political situation following the fallout of the High Court verdict.
"Taking into consideration the present political situation, the meeting entrusted Mani and party senior leader and Irrigation Minister P J Joseph to take a suitable decision on the matter. A decision will be announced today itself," he said. Though the steering committee meeting is over, Mani and Joseph held one-to-one meeting, party sources said.
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On a day of hectic political activity and parleys among the UDF partners, pressure from Congress and other coalition partners mounter on 82-year-old Mani to step down.
Meanwhile, a UDF meeting has begun apparently to discuss the development in the KC(M). Earlier in the day, KC(M) had stood firm stating that there was no need for Mani to resign as there was "nothing against" the finance Minister in the High Court order.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) veteran and State Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had the right to seek Mani's resignation.
"Chief Minister was not demanding resignation of Mani due to some fear that if further probe in the bar case is held, Chandy also would become an accused in the case", he alleged.
The opposition CPI(M)-led LDF on Tuesday decided to intensify their agitation to put pressure on Mani to resign. LDF leaders said they will not allow Mani to move freely in the state and block his movement. Mani's move was a challenge to the people and showed his arrogance, they said.
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Bar bribery case: HC orders fresh probe against KM Mani
Congress leaders ask KM Mani to step down
Bar bribery case: Worst day KM Mani ever had
Meanwhile, BJP's Yuvamorcha activists took out a protest march to Mani's residence in Thiruvananthapuram demanding his resignation.
The High Court had on Monday cleared the decks for further investigation against Mani in the bar bribery case, observing that the common man should not feel that no probe is conducted when the accused is a Minister.
Ordering further inquiries against Mani in the bar bribery case, the Vigilance Court in Thiruvananthapuram had on October 29 observed that there are "sufficient materials for making out a prima facie case".
An FIR had been filed against Mani last year after a "quick verification" by the vigilance department of the charges levelled by Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners' Association working President Biju Ramesh that the minister had accepted a Rs 1 crore bribe for renewal of licences of more than 400 Indian Made Foreign Liquor bars in the state.
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