LDF urgent meet on minister tomorrow

Thiruvananthapuram: A crucial meeting of LDF state committee will be held here on Sunday in the wake of CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran conveying to chief minister the party executive’s stand against transport minister Thomas Chandy’s continuation.

The CPM state secretariat which met here on Friday also decided to examine the allegations of encroachment against the minister. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who reported the matter at the meeting called for detailed discussions in LDF.

At the secretariat meeting, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan reportedly said that the LDF could take a decision on the issue.

Ahead of the LDF meeting, CPM will hold bilateral talks with CPI which has taken a strident position against Chandy.

Sources said the CPM wants to evolve a broader consensus on the issue within the LDF before taking any major decision. 

Meanwhile, NCP has decided to stick to its stand at the LDF meeting that the minister need not resign at this stage. The party believes that the Collector’s report was misleading and the government should wait for the verdict of the high court.

Since the allegations pertain to the minister belonging to a coalition partner , the CPM wants to take the NCP on board at the LDF meeting. 

There are two options before the LDF; persuade Chandy and NCP to take an appropriate decision including resignation on moral grounds considering the gravity of the allegations or take a decision based on the court verdict on the matter.