The Hindu : Front Page : Kuruvilla stepping down

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Monday, Sep 03, 2007
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Kuruvilla stepping down

Staff Reporter

Kerala Congress(J) executive to decide on replacement

Minister for Public Works T.U. Kuruvilla

KOTTAYAM: The Kerala Congress (J) Working Committee meeting at Thodupuzha on Sunday decided in favour of the resignation of Minister for Public Works T.U. Kuruvilla, who is facing a judicial inquiry into corruption charges.

The meeting decided to keep the decision regarding his replacement in the Ministry in abeyance. The State executive of the party on September 15 will decide it.

The working committee leaders reflected a feeling of disappointment and anger at the way the issue was handled by the Left Democratic Front.

Addressing the meeting in his residence, party chairman P.J. Joseph said there were established procedures when dealing with allegations against a Minister. If there was prima facie evidence, the Minister should stand down and inqui ries should be instituted. However, in the case of Mr. Kuruvilla, neither the report of the District Collector nor that of the Chief Secretary accused him of malpractice.

Putting in a stout endorsement of his colleague’s actions, Mr. Joseph said Mr. Kuruvilla was not personally involved in the deal and that the dealings engaged in by his children were transparent. He believed there was a conspiracy against the party and Mr. Kuruvilla to taint them.

A new development at the meeting was the general feeling that the decisions regarding Mr. Kuruvilla’s replacement and future course of action should be taken after detailed discussions among party leaders and office-bearers, making a clean departure from the earlier practice of entrusting such decisions to a high-power committee.

P.C. Thomas and Francis George, MPs; Mr. Kuruvilla, Mons Joseph and V. Surendran Pillai, MLAs; and others participated.

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