Malappuram: CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy stood with his state unit’s description of Mani as “corrupt.” He said there is nothing called small corruption or big corruption. “I don’t know whether somebody can be lesser corrupt or more corrupt. I don’t want to go into the details,” he said while speaking to media in Malappuram. The CPI leader’s reaction came close on the heels of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s recent remarks that Mani was less corrupt compared to the Congress.
CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran also reiterated his party’s opposition against any move to include Mani in LDF. “The LDF government is the outcome of the fight against corruption. The people of the state had given massive mandate against corruption in the last elections. LDF manifesto promised corruption free rule and we are committed to it,” he added.
The CPI leaders reminded the CPM that the LDF legislators had launched a massive agitation to prevent K.M. Mani from presenting the budget. The former finance minister was accused of serious allegations including trading budget. Though the CPM tried to push “Mani” agenda vigorously, the move has now been slowed down following opposition from the CPI. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had even clarified that decision on Mani would be taken only after taking the LDF into confidence and evolving consensus in bilateral talks with coalition partners.
