Congress MP faces ire of Youth Congress over decision to appear for LDF minister

By Team Asianet Newsable | First Published Nov 14, 2017, 2:05 PM IST

Youth Congress staged a protest against lawyer and Congress MP Vivek Tankha's decision to defend Kerala minister Thomas Chandy in court
Youth Congress workers raised slogans and waved black flags at Tankha as he was about to proceed to the court
Congress leaders have expressed their displeasure over the Madhya Pradesh MP's decision

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha faced the ire of Youth Congress workers as they staged a protest against the senior Supreme Court lawyer's decision to defend Kerala's beleaguered minister Thomas Chandy in the encroachment case in the Kerala High Court.

A group of Youth Congress workers raised slogans and waved black flags at Tankha as he stepped out the hotel in Kochi to proceed to the High Court, the police said. A small group of Youth Congress workers were detained for allegedly trying to stop his car at the hotel gate on Tuesday, they said.

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Congress leaders including former PCC Chief V M Sudheeran and Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala have expressed their displeasure over the Madhya Pradesh MP's decision to defend Chandy, an NCP nominee in the CPI(M)-led LDF government.

Chennithala said they had come to know of Tankha's decision to appear for Chandy only yesterday and immediately AICC General secretary in charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnik, was informed. Sudheeran attacked Tankha, saying his appearance for Chandy was an "insult" to the UDF.

Tankha, who arrived here last evening, however, maintained that he was appearing on behalf of Chandy in court in his professional capacity as a lawyer. In a tweet, the MP said, "In Cochin t argue a matter f old friend n professional capacity f lawyer.. Rare instance of a Minister compelled t challenge a dist Col order."

In Cochin t argue a matter f old friend n professional capacity f lawyer.Rare instance of a Minister compelled t challenge a dist Col order.

— Vivek Tankha (@VTankha)

Realised on Arr in Cochin the case has obsessive media attention & pub interest-typical of the state. Court t decide if Min or Col correct

— Vivek Tankha (@VTankha)

A meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party's state executive committee will be held here today amid mounting pressure on Transport Minister Thomas Chandy to quit over allegations of land encroachments by his lake resort in Alappuzha district.

The opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP have been demanding the resignation of Chandy over allegations of land encroachment.

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