CM deposes against ex-chief whip

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Saturday appeared before Assembly Speaker N Sakthan and deposed against former government chief whip PC George in connection with the anti-defection case against the Kerala Congress (M) rebel leader.

This is the first time in the history of the state Assembly that a Chief Minister is giving a statement in an anti-defection case against an MLA.

According to party sources, Chandy said George had acted against the interests of the ruling UDF and even fielded a candidate in the recent Aruvikkara bypoll.

Putting up a candidate against the official UDF candidate could only be seen as an anti-UDF move, the sources said.

Chandy also claimed that George is presently campaigning for the rival LDF front for the civic polls next month.

KPCC President VM Sudheeran, who also appeared before the Speaker, said if George was in Congress, the party would have taken action against him long ago for anti-party activities.

The depositions were made on a petition filed against George by the present government Chief Whip and KC(M) leader Thomas Unniyadan seeking his disqualification from the Assembly.