CM Vijayan should expel Thomas Chandy: M M Hassan
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Thiruvananthapuram: KPCC President M M Hassan on Saturday said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shold expel Transport Minister Thomas Chandy, who faces allegations of encroachment on government lands.
The Chief Minister is soft in his approach towards Thomas Chandy. That was not the case when some allegations came up against CPI-M leader E P Jayarajan. It has been very clear that Thomas Chandy has involved in corruption. He cannot remain as a minister, Hassan told reporters here.
The Collector’s report is that the minister has violated Kerala Paddy and Wetland Act to widen a road to his property. That’s enough for the Chief Minister to seek his resignation, Hassan added.
The charge against Thomas Chandy is that he had illegally reclaimed about five acres of Marthandam Lake, a part of Vembanad Lake, an internationally protected water body under Ramsar Convention. The transport Minister is also alleged to have constructed a road to his Lake Palace Resort in the Chungam ward of Alappuzha municipality after reclaiming a part of a paddy field. The road was constructed using Rs 22 lakh allocated for the infrastructure development in the nearby fishermen’s hamlet.
Chandy has been under attack from the Congress-led UDF Opposition ever since the allegations came up.
He had said in the state assembly that he would quit public life if the charges were proved right.
Chandy, a businessman-turned-politician representing Kuttand in the state assembly, is the NCP nominee in the CPI(M)-led LDF ministry headed by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
He became a minister in April following resignation of A K Saseendran, also from the NCP, after a purported audio clip of him speaking in sexual undertones to a woman emerged.