Oommen Chandy, M M Hassan rally behind Vincent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former chief minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC president M. M. Hassan have rallied behind  Mr  M. Vincent, Kovalam MLA,  who has been arrested in an  alleged rape case.  Mr Vincent has been a loyalist of Mr Chandy and senior Congress leader A. K. Antony. Mr Chandy and Opposition Leader Ramesh  Chennithala discussed the arrest at a meeting at Changanassery. Mr Chennithala was hesitant to defend him before the  media when the next Assembly session  is round the corner. But Mr Chandy said Mr Vincent need not resign as the party cannot ditch him at this juncture.

“Chennithala was apprehensive and asked Chandy’s opinion  whether Vincent would have to resign eventually. But Chandy decided to rally behind his loyalist,”  said a Congress leader. Mr Chandy will take up the issue at the state office- bearers’ meeting at Indira Bhavan on Tuesday. On the same day, a UDF meeting  also will be held. “The party would take action against him only if  the court finds him guilty. Vincent had alleged that the woman suffers from mental illness,”  said Mr Hassan.

Mr Vincent, 49, a first-time MLA,  who belongs to the Latin Catholic diocese,  had defeated JD (S) candidate Jameela Prakasam in the 2016 Assembly elections by 2615 votes. He had served as the Thiruvananthapurm district secretary of the KSU  and block panchayat member. It was during Mr K. P. Anil Kumar’s tenure as YC state president that  Mr Vincent was appointed as YC state general secretary. Later, he was made  DCC general secretary in 2007 by the ‘A’ camp. After four years, he was appointed as KPCC secretary.
Ms  Shanimol Usman, the lone woman member in the Political Affairs Committee,  and Ms Bindu Krishna, Mahila Congress state president,  demanded that Mr Vincent should step down as legislator.