scorpionking76
EntMnt Knight
Thomas Chandy, Kerala's Transport Minister, has resigned amid allegations of corruption and after being sharply rebuked by a court, which dismissed his petition yesterday. He is the third minister to exit the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet since the Left-led government came to power last year.
Mr Chandy, Kerala's richest lawmaker with Rs. 92 crore in declared wealth, is accused of grabbing farm land illegally. He told a TV channel after attending a cabinet meeting this morning that the Chief Minister didn't ask for his resignation but because of a coalition partner's "adamant stand", he had asked him to "consider" it.
A government official had said in a report last month that land marked for paddy fields had been illegally taken over by a resort owned by the minister.
Mr Chandy, 70, had challenged the incriminating state government report in the High Court.
The court yesterday tore into the minister, calling it "extremely improper" that he petitioned against his own government: "The act of the minister amounts to violation of collective cabinet responsibility," it said.
Kerala's Richest Minister Thomas Chandy, Accused Of Land-Grabbing, Resigns
Mr Chandy, Kerala's richest lawmaker with Rs. 92 crore in declared wealth, is accused of grabbing farm land illegally. He told a TV channel after attending a cabinet meeting this morning that the Chief Minister didn't ask for his resignation but because of a coalition partner's "adamant stand", he had asked him to "consider" it.
A government official had said in a report last month that land marked for paddy fields had been illegally taken over by a resort owned by the minister.
Mr Chandy, 70, had challenged the incriminating state government report in the High Court.
The court yesterday tore into the minister, calling it "extremely improper" that he petitioned against his own government: "The act of the minister amounts to violation of collective cabinet responsibility," it said.
Kerala's Richest Minister Thomas Chandy, Accused Of Land-Grabbing, Resigns
