Kerala finance minister KM Mani quits state cabinet
The Joseph group leaders kept away from the high-profile resignation announcement
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala finance minister K.M. Mani announced his resignation from the Chandy ministry, but colleague and water resources minister P.J. Joseph stayed put, refusing to quit along with the party chairman.
Adding a bit of drama, government chief whip Thomas Unniyadan, a protégé of Mr Mani, also stepped down. The Vigilance probe against Mr Mani was the outcome of graft allegations following the closure of bar hotels and Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan’s formal plaint to home minister Ramesh Chennithala, who forwarded it to Vigilance director Vinson M Paul.
The Joseph group leaders kept away from the high-profile resignation announcement by Mr Mani at his official residence, exposing the widening rift.
The finance minister's exit became inevitable on Monday after Justice Kemal Pasha posed whether a fair probe into the bargate was possible with Mr Mani remaining in office.
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