Welcoming Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s decision to stand down as CPI-M state secretary, the Congress yesterday said it would have been even better if Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stepped down too.
Earlier yesterday, Balakrishnan’s “leave for medical treatment” was extended on his request and the Left Democratic Front convenor, A.Vijayaraghavan, given charge of the CPI-M state secretary post.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said “never before in the history of the CPI-M have they been in such a position where the chief minister’s office was embroiled in various graft cases, including gold smuggling and other scams.”
Besides, Balakrishnan’s son is in jail in an alleged drug case, Chennithala pointed out.
“We have long been demanding that both Balakrishnan and Vijayan resign. Balakrishnan’s leave claims are a bluff as he has never sought leave before on occasions that he went to the US for treatment. It’s now Vijayan’s turn and it is better he quits immediately or else he will have to bow out in shame,” Chennithala said.
The controversy erupted after the customs department arrested P S Sarith, a former employee of the UAE consulate here, on July 5 for allegedly smuggling gold in a diplomatic baggage.
Another former consulate staff, Swapna Suresh, and her associate Sandip Nair were soon arrested by the National Investigation Agency from Bengaluru.
Vijayan first removed M Sivasankar as his principal secretary and then as IT secretary after it came to light that Swapna and Sivasankar were close friends.
Vijayan: under pressure
