Cong seeks Yechurys intervention for M M Mani’s resignation

Thiruvananthapuram: KPCC chief V M Sudheeran Tuesday urged CPI-M central leadership to direct its state faction to seek resignation of state Power minister M M Mani in view of a court refusing to discharge him in a 34-year-old murder case.

Sudheeran shot off a letter to CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, contending Manis continuance as a minister was "unethical" and a challenge to the rule of law.

"If Mani had even a little respect for the rule of law, he should have resigned. Unfortunately, the partys state leadership has decided that Mani need not resign," he said.

The opportunity for a fair trial would be lost if he continued as a minister, he said, two days after Thodupuzha Additional Sessions Court Judge V G Sreedevi dismissed the discharge petition filed by Mani, a member of the CPI(M) state Secretariat, in the case related to the murder of a youth Congress activist Anchery Baby in November, 1982.

Mani and CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have already rejected the demand for his resignation.

Mani said the case, reopened during the previous UDF regime, was politically motivated while Balakrishnan maintained it existed when Mani contested the state assembly elections in May last and there was nothing new in the court verdict.

Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here that CPI-M central leadership should make their stand clear on the issue and said Mani should resign as early as possible.

Even Marxist veteran V S Achutanandan has demanded Manis resignation, he said.