Kottayam, Kerala: Kerala Congress-M today decided not to nominate anyone as successor to KM Mani in the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Kerala, after he was forced to resign as Finance Minister following the High Court's observations in bar bribery case.
Party sources said the steering committee meeting of the party, chaired by Mr Mani and attended by senior leaders including lone representative of the party in the government PJ Joseph, decided not to name anyone as Mr Mani's successor in the state Cabinet.
Leaders supporting Mr Mani said naming anyone other than Mr Mani himself would weaken the party.
However, a section of leaders aligned with Mr Joseph did not air their views on the issue, sources said.
At the same time, the meeting expressed displeasure over the delay in completing probe in to the bar bribery case, party leaders said.
Mr Mani said the investigation into the case should be completed in a time bound manner.
Mr Mani had resigned on November 10, a day after the High Court cleared the decks for further probe against Mr Mani in the bar bribery case.
An FIR had been filed against Mr Mani last year after a "quick verification" by the Vigilance Department on the charges by Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners' Association working president Biju Ramesh that the Minister had "accepted" Rs one crore as bribe for renewal of licences to more than 400 Indian Made Foreign Liquor bars.
Party sources said the steering committee meeting of the party, chaired by Mr Mani and attended by senior leaders including lone representative of the party in the government PJ Joseph, decided not to name anyone as Mr Mani's successor in the state Cabinet.
Leaders supporting Mr Mani said naming anyone other than Mr Mani himself would weaken the party.
At the same time, the meeting expressed displeasure over the delay in completing probe in to the bar bribery case, party leaders said.
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Mr Mani had resigned on November 10, a day after the High Court cleared the decks for further probe against Mr Mani in the bar bribery case.
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