Governor’s decision on Vijayan not surprising: Achuthanandan
June 10th, 2009 - 2:33 pm ICT by IANSThiruvananthapuram, June 10 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Wednesday said the governor’s nod to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute party leader Pinarayi Vijayan in the Rs.300 crore (Rs.3 billion) SNC Lavalin scam was “not surprising”. This comes as a departure from his party stance on the issue.
When asked about his opinion on Governor R.S. Gavai’s decision, Achuthanandan said: “don’t you know that there have been several instances in the past where governors have taken such a stand”.
“The governor’s decision is not surprising,” the chief minister told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.
He clarified that no discussions were held on the issue at the cabinet meet.
“It was decided that all the ministers should get time to study the issue and we have decided to take this up at the next cabinet meeting,” Achuthanandan said.
Kerala Governor R.S. Gavai had Sunday called the head of the CBI office here to his residence and handed over a 148-page report, giving his sanction to prosecute Vijayan.
Vijayan is accused of wrongfully awarding a contract to Canadian company SNC Lavalin for renovation of two power plants when he was the state power minister in 1997.
This is the first time a CPI-M politburo member has been accused in a multi-million rupee scam and will face prosecution.
Achuthanandan’s remarks contradict the stand taken by the CPI-M that has termed the governor’s decision as “unfortunate” and said it would fight the case “both politically and legally”.
In fact, state Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had Tuesday termed Gavai’s decision as “arbitrary” and flouting the basic rules of democracy.
Vijayan and Achuthanandan are known rivals and their relationship has been going from bad to worse ever since the latter was given the nod to contest assembly polls in 2006, after first being denied a seat. He then took over the reins of the LDF government.
Vijayan, by virtue of a brute majority in 84-member state committee and 15-member secretariat, has made many attempts to unseat Achuthanandan.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) convenor P.P. Thankachen, meanwhile, welcomed Achuthanandan’s remarks.
“His analysis of the situation and the manner in which he made his views is the correct decision. We welcome his statement,” he said.
- Kerala governor's decision not surprising: Achuthanandan - Jun 10, 2009
- CBI says Kerala government was partisan for Vijayan - Nov 10, 2010
- CBI files chargesheet against CPI-M leader Vijayan - Jun 11, 2009
- CBI gets nod to prosecute Vijayan, CPI-M to fight case (Lead) - Jun 07, 2009
- Pinarayi Vijayan summoned in Lavalin graft case - Apr 10, 2012
- Make Kerala home minister accused in Lavalin case: Petition - May 05, 2011
- Calls for Achuthanandan to quit over support for governor - Jun 11, 2009
- Kerala governor rubs CPI-M the wrong way again - Feb 03, 2010
- CPI-M to fight Lavalin case in court - Jun 12, 2009
- Vijayan skips court, counsel wants Antony examined - Sep 24, 2009
- Nod for Vijayan's prosecution politically motivated: Brinda Karat - Jun 08, 2009
- CBI asks Pinarayi Vijayan to appear in court Sept 24 - Aug 21, 2009
- Governor's decision on Vijayan arbitrary: Kerala home minister - Jun 09, 2009
- CPI-M politburo to discuss Kerala feud at special meet - Jun 23, 2009
- Apex court admits Vijayan's case - Aug 31, 2009
Tags: assembly polls, balakrishnan, cabinet meeting, cbi, central bureau of investigation, CPI, crore, home minister, kerala chief minister, nod, party leader, politburo member, power minister, power plants, prosecution, reins, rivals, rupee, sanction, v s achuthanandan