After days of guesswork, Kerala Transport Minister and NCP leader Thomas Chandy, facing land encroachment charges, has submitted his resignation from the cabinet. Chandy, the richest legislator in the state, is the third minister in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s cabinet to step down in the last 16 months.
Resignation letter of Thomas Chandy was handed over to CM Vijayan by NCP state president TP Peethambaran Master. The letter has been forwarded to Governor P Sathasivam.
Chandy is the MLA from Kuttanad in Alappuzha district, is accused of violating wetland rules by encroaching a section of a lake to construct an approach road and parking facilities for the Lake Palace resort, that he owns with a relative. Alappuzha district collector TV Anupama had submitted a report, alleging a gross violation of conservation norms, to the revenue department.
On Tuesday, a division bench of Kerala High Court had dismissed Chandy’s petition seeking to quash of the collector’s report. The HC asked Chandy how he could petition against the government when he was a part of the cabinet and told him to approach the collector’s office.
“The chief minister has assured us that the cabinet berth for the party will be kept vacant until I come out clean,” said Chandy.
Chandy’s resignation is expected to hit the image of CM Vijayan badly since he has personally vowed not to tolerate corruption within the government. Saseendran, the former transport minister, had resigned in March this year after he was caught on tape having a sleazy conversation with a woman. Industries Minister EP Jayarajan too had quit last year over nepotism charges.