Vijayan case: CPM steps up campaign against Kerala governor

10 Jun 2009,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the CPM politburo insisting corruption charges against party's state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC-Lavlin case are "politically motivated'', its Kerala unit on Tuesday stepped up the campaign against Governor R S Gavai for sanctioning Pinarayi's prosecution in the case by CBI.

Home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan led the charge at a news conference claiming that the Governor was yet to convey his decision to the government, two days after the news appeared in the media. Accusing Gavai of keeping the state cabinet in the dark, he said the Governor's action had given rise to a "constitutional deadlock''.

"It was not proper to give the information to the media when the report (of the Governor) has not yet been submitted to the government,'' he said. The government can examine it and decide what to do next only after seeing the report, Balakrishnan added.

He denied the government had decided not to co-operate with the Governor. This was in reference to the sudden cancellation of a public event of the tourism department on Wednesday, which Gavai was scheduled to attend. Balakrishanan, who alsoholds the tourism portfolio, said the cancellation had nothing to do with the government's unhappiness with Gavai and asserted that this was done only because the arrangements had not been completed.

Left Democratic Front convenor Vaikom Viswan echoed the allegations against the Governor saying he was acting "at the instance of the ruling party'' at the Centre.

The Governor is believed to sent his report sanctioning prosecution of Pinarayi to the chief minister's office on Tuesday through a special envoy.