The Hindu : Kerala News : Jacob sees conspiracy behind his ouster

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Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Jacob sees conspiracy behind his ouster

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 7. The former Water Resources Minister and Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader, T. M. Jacob, feels that the possibility of a conspiracy having been hatched with the involvement of the Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani, for his exclusion from the Oommen Chandy Cabinet could not be ruled out.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists' Trust here today, Mr. Jacob said the chronology of events that led to his exclusion clearly suggested that there was a last-minute intervention from somewhere seeking his exclusion.

Gross injustice

He disclosed that the Chief Minister told him about his exclusion only after he had signed late on August 30 night the coalition partners' letter endorsing his claim to be sworn in as Chief Minister. "What they have done to me and my party is gross injustice. The verdict against us has been pronounced without investigation or trial," Mr. Jacob said.

The former Minister, who took care not to be linked with the former Transport Minister, R. Bakakrishna Pillai, who has also been kept out of the Chandy Cabinet, disputed Mr. Chandy's statement that he knew very well why he had been kept out of the new Government. Although the Chief Minister had cited objections from his party high command as the reason, there was no explanation what the objection was about. Although he had met the Congress observers, Pranab Mukherjee, Margaret Alva and Ahmed Patel, earlier on August 30 evening, they had not told him that their party had any objection to his inclusion in the new Ministry, Mr. Jacob pointed out.

Mani should quit

Dropping abundant hints to the effect that it was Mr. Mani who had worked behind the scenes to keep him out of the Chandy Cabinet, Mr. Jacob said the Revenue Minister's contention that his son, Jose K. Mani, was defeated in the Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha constituency on account of non-cooperation by the Kerala Congress (Jacob) had no basis in facts. Mr. Mani's son performed most miserably in the Pala Assembly segment, which is being represented by Mr. Mani in the Assembly. He trailed the victorious NDA candidate, P. C. Thomas, in the segment by 11,000 votes. If it was Mr. Mani's case that he (Jacob) was instrumental for this, the Revenue Minister should rather quit active politics, the KC (Jacob) leader said.

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