Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 20 (IANS) R. Balakrishna Pillai, a senior leader of Kerala's Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), said Tuesday he would be happy if ousted from the coalition over controversy that he knew about the bribe allegedly demanded by Finance Minister K.M. Mani from bar owners.
"I will be more happy if I am booted out. I feel I will be stronger if I am outside the UDF, than being an ally of the UDF. If I am booted out, I will be able to reveal more," Pillai told reporters here.
The audio recordings aired on TV channels Monday ostensibly revealed that whistleblower bar owner Biju Ramesh had called Pillai.
Pillai is heard saying he along with his son K.B. Ganesh Kumar - a former minister - had told Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that Mani was taking bribes from several business groups.
Pillai is heard telling Ramesh that he should not backtrack on his statement, and should approach the Kerala High Court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the bar graft case.
Ramesh alleged in October 2014 that Rs.1 crore was given to Mani as the first installment of the Rs.5 crore he demanded to help reopen bars that were closed under the state's new liquor policy. Following the allegation, the vigilance department registered a case against Mani.
The UDF consists of nine political parties and was formed in the early 80s and Pillai is one of its founder leaders. Pillai heads one of the three Kerala Congress parties, who are allies in the UDF.
Following the revelation, a peeved Mani demanded that Pillai should be booted out of the UDF and has approached Chandy and UDF convenor P.P. Thankachen.
Mani's Kerala Congress-Mani also is in a quandary a second conversation involved Ramesh and P.C. George, government chief whip and the party's vice chairman.
George is heard saying that even though he defends Mani on TV channel debates, it should not be given any importance.
Pillai said: "Before Mani's party wants action against me, they should throw out George first."
Meanwhile, Chandy Tuesday held informal talks with the senior leaders of the UDF and a meeting is expected to be called early next week.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar, a thug lodged in Delhi's Mandoli Jail, has written the fifth letter. Sukes
The pace of corona infection is decreasing rapidly in the country and in the meantime, the govern
BCCI: Match fees of Indian women cricketers are now at par with men, BCCI made a big announcement
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah made a big announcement on Thursd
PM Modi's 75th birthday today... BJP makes special preparations for celebrations, PM to visit MP
The BJP and the government will celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 75th birthday today with
Sonia Gandhi endorses sacking of Goa Congress MLA
Panaji, March 11 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi has endorsed the sacking of its legisla
Budget session's first phase likely to be extended
New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) The first phase of the ongoing budget session is likely to be extend
There is a lot of resentment among the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party regarding Congress. Accordi
The connection of the ruckus on the new road in Kanpur is connecting with the masters sitting in
People's wait is over and the most awaited show of the year 'Panchayat Season 4' has now been rel
Asked about Mukul, Mamata loses cool
Kolkata, Feb 16 (IANS) Amid reports of Trinamool Congress national general secretary Mukul Roy
