LDF to hold demonstrations demanding Oommen Chandy's resignation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI(M)-led LDF Opposition will be organising demonstrations at district headquarters in Kerala, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the wake of an adverse court order in a case pertaining to alleged corruption in implementation of an effluent treatment plant at a public sector company.

LDF convener and CPI(M) central committee member Vaikom Viswan said today that a fair probe in the matter would not be possible with Chandy as well as Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Public Works Minister V K Ibrahim Kunhu remaining in office.

In a statement, Viswan said the appropriate course of action in the case would be entrusting the case to CBI.

A vigilance court here on Thursday rejected the report of the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau into alleged irregularities in awarding a contract to a company outside the state for setting up an effluent plant at public sector Travancore Titanium Products (TTP), during Chandy's initial stint as Chief Minister in 2005.

Chandy and his two colleagues have ruled out their resignation, but asserted that they were not afraid of any investigation since they had not done anything wrong.

Chennithala had said yesterday that he had no role whatsoever in the matter since he was not holding any official position at the time.

Meanwhile, defending his colleague Ibrahim Kunju, IUML leader and Industries Minister P K Kunjalikutty said there was no need for any minister to resign simply because the court had asked for a further probe.

While turning down the VACB report submitted in March 2013, the court asked the agency to conduct further investigations and file a fresh report within four months.

The case concerns alleged irregularities in implementation of an effluent treatment plant at Travancore Titanium Products Ltd (TTP), one of Kerala's oldest public sector companies located on a beach near the state capital.