Chief Minister has no right to continue, says Kodiyeri

Earlier, K Babu had resigned after a vigilance court in Thrissur had asked the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a case against him in connection with a bar bribery scandal.

In a reprieve for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Kerala High Court on Friday stayed the lodging of an FIR against him and another minister in the solar scam, with strictures against the vigilance judge who immediately offered to quit. Babu withdrawing his resignation is an insult to the state and should prevent him from becoming a minister, he said.

“I also attended a farewell given to me by my staff, but today (Saturday), my party and the UDF said the situation that prevailed during my resignation no longer exists, hence I am taking back my resignation, because that’s what my party and the UDF wants”, Babu said.

After Solar scam accused Saritha S. Nair had deposed before the Justice Sivarajan commission that Rs 1.90 crore had allegedly been paid to a close aide of Chandy and Rs 40 lakh to Power minister Arayadan Mohammed for favourable decisions for her Solar company, vigilance court had directed filing of FIR against them.

“Though I am not interested in returning to the ministership, I, as an obedient party worker, accept the decision taken by the party leadership and UDF”. He had talked to Babu before the meeting and insisted he not press for his resignation.

“I am thankful to the UDF for reposing absolute faith in me, but at the moment I am in no hurry to return”. While the court stayed the order against Chandy, it lashed out at Vassan who, in his defence, had said that “in forwarding the complaint” he was “acting as a post office”.

But it is quite extraordinary that as CM Mr Chandy did not take matters in hand long ago and begin to take executive action against those suspected to have accepted bribes from shady operators even if this cost him some political points.