Sorry, not quitting, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy tells media

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, facing double onslaught and much pressure for his resignation over the solar panel scam, told the media here Wednesday: "Sorry, but I am not going to resign."

The double onslaught is from the electronic media and the Left opposition.

"I do have the highest regard for the judiciary and unlike some others, for me it's same even when it does not favour me. Am sorry, it is you (the media) that wants my resignation, but am not going to resign," said a stern Chandy.

The Kerala government has ordered a probe into the dealings of Saritha S. Nair and her live-in partner Biju Radhakrishnan, who are currently under arrest for having defrauded several investors on the promise of providing solar panels at subsidised rates.

The telephone call records of Nair showed she was in frequent touch with members of the chief minister's personal staff.

While one member of the chief minister's staff has been arrested in this connection, two others have been sacked.

Tuesday, both the Left opposition and the electronic media were up in arms, saying the only way out for Chandy is to quit. They referred to the state high court's adverse remarks against him to substantiate their demand.

"I have been told by the director general of prosecution, who was present in the court, that there has been no such remark. But you (media) have been airing that I was being held responsible by the court and it has passed adverse remarks," said Chandy.

When the media raised the same question again and again, Chandy got up and said, "See, I have a lot of work other than this, so I am leaving while you have only this work."

Meanwhile, the Left has begun indefinite protests at all the 13 district headquarters and the state secretariat here, demanding his resignation.

State Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan took potshots at the electronic media after they aired a news item that he has been called to meet the party high command in Delhi, later in the day.

"I saw this news on the TV channels and I decided I am not going to Delhi at all, even though I had a meeting of the home ministry," said Radhakrishnan, also facing the heat of the electronic media here.