Bar bribe scam: Mani sneers at speculations of resignation

Hours after Mani ruled out his resignation, his party Kerala Congress (M) vice-chairman P C George, who raised the speculation, said Mani would have no option but to quit if Vigilance, probing the bribery case, questions him. “Police questioning the party chairman (Mani) would be ignominious. Party workers are dejected over the developments. I am trying to boost their morale,’’ said George.

Earlier in the day, KC (M) in Kottayam had stated that party has not so far deliberated on Mani’s resignation. It did not attest the opinions on resignation raised by George. Mani’s son and Kottayam MP Jose K Mani too joined the issue saying he has no plan to become the minister as alleged by George. “It was unfortunate that my name has been dragged into the scene,’’ he said.

Mani is facing a Vigilance probe into the allegation that he had accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor license. The allegations, raised more than two months ago, got a sudden twist last week with bar owners raising more serious bribery charges against him. Embarrassingly, the allegations were supported and supplemented by a senior leader of the ruling front, R Balakrishna Pillai.

Since then, the Opposition LDF and BJP have hit the streets with demand for Mani’s exit. LDF observed a day-time hartal in Pala constituency represented by Mani in the assembly. The Yuva Morcha activists tried to barge into the state secretariat, demanding Mani’s resignation.

Adding more trouble for Mani, George, who is the government chief whip, triggered a debate on party and its representative in the cabinet if Mani has to quit. George was first to raise the issue of Mani’s resignation within the United Democratic Front. Targeting Mani’s son, George said that the Kerala Congress would not allow any dynasty rule in the party. “There are seasoned leaders to succeed Mani in the government and the party alike,’’ he said, targeting junior Mani.

George’s move was seen as an attempt to split the party, which has nine legislators in the assembly. Within the KC (M), there is a dormant faction led by P J Joseph, who is also a Minister. The Joseph faction had merged with Mani in 2010, after ending a long alliance with CPI (M).

A split in the KC (M) would spell trouble for Congress-led United Democratic Front Government, which has only a thin majority in the assembly In the 140-strong assembly, the UDF has only 75 members. R Balakrishna Pillai’s party Kerala Congress (B), which has a single legislator, has threatened to quit the UDF.

Hence, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC president V M Sudheeran have extended support for Mani. The Congress has also been chary to join the succession war in the KC (M).

Besides, Mani’s fate in the bribery case is a concern for Congress on another front. Although Mani is the only minister facing bribery charges, the bar owners had earlier stated that Congress ministers too had taken money for renewing license. But, the owners have not revealed the names of Congress ministers.

Congress fears that demanding Mani’s resignation would spell doom for the Government on many grounds. It could trigger a succession war in the Kerala Congress, threatening to spit that party. George has already stated that the party can look beyond Mani. A split in KC (M) would shake the UDF government. Many feel that Mani or his party confidants may expose “other ministers in the cabinet whom the bar owners had bribed’’ as alleged earlier, if Mani is slated to have an exit from the cabinet.