KOCHI: Offering a green leaf to his mentor-turned rival Finance Minister K M Mani and his son Jose K Mani, who are under fire from party vice-chairman P George, P C Thomas, the Kerala Congress leader in the LDF, said that he did not believe they were corrupt.
He, however, said that Mani should have resigned as there was an inquiry pending against him.
“I do not think that they are corrupt. He need not resign just because there is an allegation against him. It is up to the court to decide whether he is guilty, or not. This is the view of the Kerala Congress and myself, personally. But, Mani sir should have resigned as there is an inquiry progressing against him. The inquiry will not be held in a free-and-fair manner while he is still part of a government that has ordered it,” he told ‘Express’.
Regarding the allegations against Jose K Mani, he said, “it also should be inquired. But, I do not have anything against Jose, who is a cousin of mine.”
Thomas, who entered politics through the Kerala Congress (M), said it was natural that the entry of Jose played a role in his exit from the party. He alleged that his estranged friend Scaria Thomas was behind generating animosity between him and Mani. “Why should a person like me, who had a fairly good track record in the Parliament, be afraid of Jose? Mani sir had some apprehensions about me because of Scaria Thomas,” he said.
Thomas, who was facing strong infighting in his party, was denied entry to the recent LDF meet following a split in the party. He said he was still with the LDF, and that he wanted everyone with ‘Kerala Congress culture’ to unite.
