Decision on demand for Chief Whip removal on April 6: Chandy

A decision would be taken on April 6 on the demand of ruling UDF partner KC(M) for removal of its dissident leader P C George from the post of Government Chief Whip, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said today.
"The ruling UDF understands the sentiments of KC-M and so a final decision will be taken on April 6 itself', he told reporters here.
KC-M headed by state Finance Minister K M Mani had recently submitted a letter to Chandy seeking removal of George, also the Vice-Chairman of the party, from the Government Chief Whip following differences with him.
"I talked to Mani, who is not in town, over phone and discussed the issue," Chandy said adding it was usual for the Front to accept the suggestions of a Front partner.

Irritated by George's public remarks against Mani, facing bribery charges in bar scam after he presented the budget on March 13, eight KC(M) legislators headed by Mani have sought removal of George, MLA, and barring him from attending the liaison committee meeting of UDF.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had recently registered a case against Mani in connection with the charge of having accepted bribe from bar owners to renew liquor licences.

George had stated that Mani should have resigned when the controversy erupted last November.
The UDF is taking efforts to bring about a truce between the two leaders of the KC(M), which has nine MLAs, as it wants to avoid any trouble ahead of civic polls this year and the assembly polls next year.

Also, the front cannot afford to lose the support of even a single MLA since it has a wafer-thin majority of 73 in the 140-member assembly with one seat vacant while the CPI-M led LDF has 65 members. Kerala Congress (B) which recently quit UDF has one MLA.