Mr Chandy soon met the media and said that he had accepted Mr Mani’s resignation
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K. M. Mani announced his resignation from the cabinet at 8:04 p.m. on Tuesday before a huge posse of media men. Mr Mani said that with due respect and allegiance to the judiciary, he was tendering his resignation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
KC(M) MLA Roshi Augustine and party general secretary Joseph M. Puthuserry handed over the resignation letter to Mr Chandy which he accepted immediately. But Mr Chandy was at pains to explain that neither the Congress nor the UDF had demanded Mr Mani’s resignation.
Mr Mani, who spoke to the media along with his party leaders, was flanked by Mr C. F. Thomas MLA and chief whip Thomas Unniyadan.
“I have already spoken to the CM. Even though I am resigning, I will continue to give ‘unconditional’ support to the UDF government. Yesterday (Monday) itself I had made it clear that today I would disclose my decision on resignation. I tendered my resignation before the party first which was accepted. The letter will soon be sent to the Chief Minister and I leave it to his discretion,” he said.
Immediately, Roshi Augustine and Puthussery went to the Cliff House and handed over his resignation letter. It was clear that not all was well between Mr Mani and Mr Chandy as he did not bother to hand it over to him personally and instead relied on his messengers.
Mr Chandy soon met the media and said that he had accepted Mr Mani’s resignation. He rallied behind Mr Mani saying that he was keen to approve of whatever decision taken by Mr Mani and KC (M).
“Neither me nor the UDF demanded Mani’s resignation. The news that AICC leadership had demanded his resignation was false. Mani Sir was free to take his own decision. His relations with UDF date back to 1975 and we are sure that he will keep supporting us. His statement that he will keep giving us ‘unconditional’ support clearly shows his views which I welcome wholeheartedly,” said Mr Chandy.
He also expressed the hope that Mr Mani will come back victorious after getting cleared by the Supreme Court. While Mr Mani was announcing his resignation, the UDF leaders were huddled before the television set at the Cliff House.
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