Achuthanandan offers to quit over land scam, party says no

Thiruvananthapuram - With the Communist Party of India-Marxist firmly behind him in a land transfer case, beleaguered former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan's offer to quit as leader of opposition in the assembly has been turned down by his party's national leadership.

Achuthanandan, named prime accused in a land transfer case by the state vigilance department, is learned to have spoken to CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat and conveyed that he wished to step down as leader of opposition. However, the offer has been turned down.

Addressing reporters in Delhi, party politburo member Sitaram Yechury Friday said this is a clear case of victimisation and vindictiveness.

"Our party has seen similar cases in the past and we will deal with it," said Yechury.

The vigilance department, after a preliminary inquiry, recommended that the veteran communist be arraigned as the first of the eight accused as it is a corruption case.

The first information report is ready and it would be filed before a court in Kozhikode Friday, sources said.

The investigating team has named four Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials, including the then principal secretary to Achuthanandan, Sheela Thomas, as accused in the case.

The others in the list include the then revenue minister and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader K.P. Rajendran, besides the personal assistant to Achuthanandan, Suresh.

Addressing a party meeting in Kannur district Friday, state party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said it was rather surprising that the Chandy government, which has two ministers facing vigilance cases, should demand the resignation of Achuthanandan.

"It is best that the Congress-led alliance government keep away from threats like such cases. We will deal with the issue in the legal way," said Vijayan.

In June last year, the Oommen Chandy government, after examining all files related to the land transfer to T.K. Soman, a relative of Achuthanandan, ordered a probe by the vigilance department.

The cabinet also decided to cancel the land allotment in Kasargode district involving Soman, a former defence official. The alleged land transfer took place at the fag end of Achuthanandan's tenure as the chief minister.

According to government norms, when land is given to people in the defence category, it should not exceed more than an acre. But Soman was given 2.33 acres.

State Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed said: "Achuthanandan was one person who in his personal capacity approached the apex court on more than one occasion on corruption cases against our leaders. So in all fairness, he also should do the same in the present corruption case against him that has now surfaced and not say that this is a politically vindictive action against him."

State Forest Minister K.B.Ganesh Kumar said that Achuthanandan was one person who used to do research on how to trap his political adversaries. Ganesh Kumar's father and former minister R.Balakrishna Pillai had to serve a year in jail last year following a case pursued by Achuthanandan.

"Since I am not a person who does anything to harm others, I have nothing to say," said Kumar.