CPI-M steps up demand for Kerala CM's resignation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI-M in Kerala today stepped up its demand for resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the wake of a Vigilance Court ordering a probe into his role in the palmolein oil import deal when he was Finance Minister in the K Karunakaran government in 1992.

Addressing a press meet after the party secretariat here, Party State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said Chandy should step down to facilitate a free and impartial probe in the case.

Handing over charge of Vigilance Department to his close associate and Revenue Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan was not sufficient, Vijayan said, adding, "Chandy should resign both on legal and moral grounds."

The probe ordered by the court would not be free and impartial if Chandy continued in office, Vijayan said.

"....there is no point in his continuing in the post of Chief Ministership...Not only that Chief Minister has the overall control over the ministry," he said.

Chandy today shed the Vigilance department from the bouquet of portfolios held by him, a day after the court ordered the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau to probe if he had any role in the deal.