CM Oommen Chandy takes plunge, dares opposition

Thiruvananthapuram: With just two weeks left for the Aruvikkara byelection,  Chief Minister Oommen Chandy stepped up his campaign for UDF candidate  K.S. Sabarinathan and tried to capitalise on the reports that there was no evidence against Finance Minister K.M. Mani in the bargate. 

Addressing a meeting at  Nettirachira, he lashed out at the Opposition for raising the issue  in the byelection  and said the LDF  would suffer a setback.  He termed the bargate as an example of  political hypocrisy and added that the interrogation of 309 witnesses had not yielded any results. 

KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran  also campaigned  in the constituency. Mr Chandy told reporters that  from  newspaper reports it was clear that so far none had given statements against Mr Mani.

“It will be unfortunate if the LDF tries to make use of the  bargate  in  Aruvikkara.  They will  suffer a setback,”  said Mr Chandy.

Earlier, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had said that he would not interfere in the Vigilance inquiry against Mr Mani.   “Those  who were unhappy with the clean chit being given to Mr Mani can go to  court and challenge the  finding of the Vigilance,” he said.  The investigation was concluded as per the advice given by the Vigilance legal advisor C. C. Augustine which was seconded by the ADGP, he said.