Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress (M) leader and Finance Minister K M Mani resigned on Tuesday in the wake of the High Court observations against him in the bar bribery case.
Putting up a brave face, 82-year-old Mani, who is also the Law minister, told reporters after day long hectic parleys with party colleagues, that he was resigning as he respected judiciary.
"I am resigning to express my respect and regard to judiciary as a law minister," he said.
The decision came a day after observations were made against him by the Kerala High Court in the bar case.
Mani said he had spoken to chief minister Oommen Chandy, and his resignation letter had already been sent to him.
Chandy said Mani's resignation is to be accepted. Mani also thanked the chief minister and his ministerial colleagues for all their support and also shared his love for them.
"I am resigning. But I will continue to provide unstinting support to UDF," Mani said.
Government chief whip, Thomas Unniyadan, who was also present, said he was also resigning from the post to express solidarity with his leader.
Unniyadan had been appointed to the post early this year after rebel Kerala Congress (M) MLA P C George was removed for violating party discipline.
Unniyadan earlier said, "Even though there was no need for Mani to resign on the basis of high court's observation, but the remarks had led to a public debate and in that circumstances Mani Sir decided to resign. I will also resign," he told TV channels.
The resignation drama came to a close tonight after day-long discussions began since this morning by the ruling Congress-led UDF to persuade Mani to put in his papers after the high court made stringent remarks against him in the case.
On Monday, the court had upheld the vigilance court order for further investigation in the case in which an FIR has been registered against Mani over the allegation that he had demanded Rs five crore as bribe from Kerala bar hotel owners association and had accepted Rs one crore for renewing licenses of over 400 bars in the state.
Talking to reporters soon after receiving the resignation letters of Mani and that of government chief whip, Thomas Unniyadan, Chandy said "Mani has taken the decision to resign on his own."
"Since the bar bribery case came up, UDF's stand was that Mani had not done anything wrong. We still stand by it. The decision to resign was that of Mani in the wake of court observations," Chandy said.
"The High Court has not said that Mani was guilty. But still upholding high political and democratic values, he decided on his own free will to resign. We did not seek his resignation," the chief minister said.
On the replacement for Mani in the cabinet, he said in a coalition set-up, it was the front leaders who make suggestions.
"There were media reports that the Congress high command had sought Mani's resignation. That is not correct. It is natural that the high command will watch the development in the states. The state leadership had complete freedom to take a decision," he added.
Mani was the seniormost legislator and minister in the cabinet and his services to UDF and state government will be an 'asset', Chandy said, expressing confidence that he would return to the cabinet "as early as possible after his name was cleared."
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