THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keeping the suspense on the resignation letter submitted by Excise-Fisheries Minister K Babu, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Wednesday that further steps would be taken after consultations with his Cabinet and party colleagues. Curiously, Babu’s resignation didn’t find even a mention in the weekly Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, according to reliable sources in the council of ministers.
In the post-Cabinet media briefing, Chandy said that he was not able to contact all those concerned, in the past few days as he was held up with many other engagements. “That’s the reason in the delay in handing over the resignation letter to the Governor,” he said. “I’m going straightaway to Puthupally now, since the Janaraksha Yatra led by KPCC president V M Sudheeran is reaching there today. Detailed discussions will be held there,” he said.
“I was in the Solar Commission for most part of Monday. After the Republic Day celebrations I had to go to Kochi to attend the funeral services of A C Jose. I got a bit of time only today,” he said.
Asked whether he was waiting for a court verdict favourable to Babu, the chief minister said that it had nothing to do with the handing over of the resignation letter to the Governor. “The Vigilance Court order has not found fault with K Babu. Nor has it blamed the Vigilance Department. What has been directed is to register an FIR and probe the complaint,” Chandy said.
On whether the letter would be handed over to the Governor on Wednesday itself, Chandy said that mediapersons would be informed first about it.
“I came to know about the details of the Vigilance Court verdict while attending the inaugural ground trial of the Kochi Metro.
“Babu had offered to quit at that moment itself. I told him to wait for the details of the judgment, but he remained firm on his stand. He handed over the resignation letter to me in the afternoon,” he said.