CPI ministers' Cabinet boycott was clincher

Thiruvananthapuram: In a move termed “unprecedented” by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, all four CPI ministers stayed away from Cabinet meeting on Wednesday bringing Thomas Chandy and his party under severe pressure to throw in the towel.

The stay-out decision was conveyed to CM minutes before the meeting to register their protest against Chandy's presence. Revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan justified the decision to keep off meet saying circumstances forced them to take the unprecedented step.

Chandrasekharan who had taken a firm stand on Thomas Chandy issue right from the beginning, said after the high court verdict it was expected that Chandy would not attend the meeting and it was also our position. However, when he came for the meeting there was no other option but to stay away.

Chandrasekharan said there was nothing wrong in chief minister describing their decision as “unprecedented” and something that should not have happened. “Something which does not happen normally is unprecedented. The situation was unprecedented hence the decision. In our note the reason was clearly pointed out which was also disclosed by the chief minister,” he said.

“The development should not have happened was the CM’s view. But if you want to portray that there are differences between the CM and the ministers then it would not work.”