THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving the Left front some respite in the MM Mani issue, the CPI has come out in support of the power minister stating there's no need for Mani to resign. Speaking at Kasargod, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran opined that Mani can face trial while continuing in the state cabinet.
The CPI's stance in the issue has been a point of worry within the Left front as Mani has never been CPI's fovourite. Just before assuming office Mani had unleashed a scathing attack on CPI minister E Chandrasekharn and VS Sunil Kumar, thus drawing flak from the CPI leadership.
Both UDF and BJP had raised demands for Mani's resignation on moral grounds after the Thodupuzha court dismissed his discharge petition in the Ancherry Baby murder. CPM state chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had rejected the demands terming it politically motivated.