CPI-M, CPI back Vigilance Director

Thiruvananthapuram: Rallying behind Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas, who has offered to quit after allegations of financial irregularities cropped up against him, the ruling CPI-M and CPI Wednesday said he should continue as the head of the anti-corruption agency.

CPI-M leader M V Govindan Master said the partys opinion was that Thomas should continue on the post.

"He has a corruption free image and so he should continue. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also echoed similar sentiments in the Assembly," he said.

CPI-M state Secretariat, which met here, was also understood to have come out in favour of Thomas continuing in the post.

The secretariat discussed the issue and expressed confidence in Thomas as he had launched a crusade against corruption, the party sources said.

This was also conveyed to the Chief Minister.

Veteran Marxist leader and Chairman of the state Administrative Reforms Committee, V S Achutanandan, also backed Thomas, saying he was an officer of integrity and he should not put in his papers.

There was no circumstances for him to relinquish the post, he told reporters at Alapuzha.

"The black hands of corruption were behind the move to oust him," the senior leader said.

CPI, a lead partner of the ruling LDF, also supported Thomas, saying he should continue.

CPI state Secretary Kanam Rajendran said there was no circumstances that warranted a change of guard at the state anti-corruption watchdog.

However, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala took a dig at Thomas saying he had earlier boasted that he cannot be moved even by a storm.

But now, he seems to have been "unnerved" by a mere brush of a breeze.

Thomas had yesterday written to the Chief Minister, seeking his permission for relinquishing the office apparently annoyed over the re-surfacing of report against him on financial irreregularities when he was Ports director in 2013-14.