SOUTH
After submitting his resignation as Transport Minister, senior NCP legislator AK Saseendran demanded the Chief Minister to bring out the truth behind the news of sleaze phone call leak allegedly involving the politician. Interestingly, the former minister did not cry a conspiracy behind the incident and file a complaint so far.
"Let the inquiry take place to bring the truth behind it," Saseendran said. "There is something suspicious around the news report. My first priority is to prove my innocence," he added.
Related: Sleaze talk: Kerala Minister Saseendran quits, says resignation is not a confession
Within hours after the television channel aired the phone-conversation, Saseendran announced his resignation, to 'uphold political morality.' He sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister on Sunday and met Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday morning. But some questions surrounding the controversy remain unanswered.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is also confused by the embarrassing exit of its lone minister. The party said it was a conspiracy but stopped short of demanding the kind of investigation it would prefer in the controversy. State President Uzhavoor Vijayan said that the party would give all support to Saseendran. "The state committee meeting of the party on Tuesday will decide on the future course of action," he said.
The NCP is now grappling with another question: who will be the next ministerial candidate from the party? The party has only two MLAs including Saseendran. The natural choice is Thomas Chandy MLA. But the internal bickering in the party poses a hurdle before legislator from Kuttanad. It is widely rumoured that the Chief Minister would keep the transport portfolio for the time being.