Kerala   

KC(J) to decide on Kuruvilla

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla has got a temporary reprieve with the State committee of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) skirting the question whether he shall continue in the Cabinet in the wake of allegations relating to a land deal allegedly involving him and his family members.

The front panel asked the Government to hold a judicial inquiry into the land deal and left to the Kerala Congress (Joseph) leadership the decision whether the Minister should remain in office when the inquiry is on. The KC(J) leaders will meet at Thodupuzha on September 2 to discuss the issue.

The Assembly is meeting from September 4 for legislative business and the KC(J) leadership will have to take a decision on the matter before that. The impropriety of Mr. Kuruvilla remaining in office when a judiciary inquiry is on against him has already becoming a talking point in political circles. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and leaders of the CPI(M) and the RSP were insistent that Mr. Kuruvilla should not be allowed to remain in office in the light of the allegations.

However, the rest of the LDF panel felt that it would be imprudent to initiate action against him without a formal inquiry to see whether he was really guilty of the charges that had been raised against him. The LDF decision that the KC(J) should take a decision in the matter was taken as a face-saving formula acceptable to all sides.

Although things have not fully gone in its favour, the KC(J) leadership has another reason to feel gratified.

The front leadership has formally shown the door to Kerala Congress (Secular) leader P.C. George, MLA, a vocal critic of the KC(J) and a campaigner against Mr. Kuruvilla, by declaring that he no longer represents the LDF.

Although Mr. George is not part of the LDF, he was elected as an LDF nominee in the 2006 Assembly elections and has been working in tandem with the ruling alliance.

Briefing mediapersons after the LDF State committee meeting, front convener Vaikom Viswan said the committee’s decision was that the Government should try to get the services of a sitting judge of the High Court to probe the allegations against Mr. Kuruvilla and his family members. The front also wanted the report of the inquiry within three months, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

KC(J) to decide on Kuruvilla
Central team to study feasibility of dam in Pampa
Project to monitor avian migration
Rice, with love
Uncertain future for Gulf returnees
Cooperative sector’s offer
Paramount Airways offers new service
No end to channel war
Clouds of smoke
PeOPLESPEAK
Excited fans
Optical illusion
In need of urgent attention
Government medical college teachers’ meet in Kottayam
Upholding a tradition
Kochi’s synthetic track inaugurated
A big Onam let-down
Campus Notes
Stars on a new track
Amnesty extended by 2 months

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu