THIRUVANTHAPURAM: National CongressParty's (NCP) Kuttanad MLA Thomas Chandy, the richest MLA in the State Cabinet, will be the new Kerala transport minister and take oath of office on Saturday evening.
The decision was taken after NCP leaders, led by State president Uzhavoor Vijayan met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday. The seat fell vacant after its incumbent, AK Saseendran resigned following a sting operation conducted by a new television channel, allegedly involving him in a lewd conversation with a woman.
Meanwhile, the six-member special investigation team led by IG Dinendra Kashyap has filed cases against nine persons of the channel, including its CEO Ajith Kumar. The charges, some of which are non bailable, include conspiracy, IT Act violation, misuse of electronic media.
The State Cabinet on Wednesday appointed Justice (retired) PS Antony to head the judicial commission to probe the phone tapping incident that led to the resignation of NCP MLA AK Saseendran as Transport Minister.