Decision on George's removal as Chief Whip in few days: Chandy

Amid turbulence in Kerala Congress (M), with its supremo and Finance Minister K M Mani demanding removal of his party colleague P C George as government Chief Whip, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said a decision on the issue would be taken in a few days.
Chandy, who is also the Chairman of the Congress-led UDF, said he would take a decision on the issue soon after his four-day UAE visit.
"I don't want to get into details of the issue. A speedy decision will be taken on the matter," Chandy told reporters before leaving for UAE. He will return on April 2.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said a final decision on Mani's demand has not been taken yet by the UDF.
Meanwhile, another senior KC(M) leader and Water Resources Minister P J Joseph supported Mani's stand, breaking his silence on the issue.
Joseph said the decision to seek George's removal as government Chief Whip was taken at a meeting of eight MLAs of the party and there won't be any going back.

"The Chief Minister has assured us that a decision on our demand will be taken in a stipulated time," said Joseph who accompanied Mani, facing bribery charges in bar scam, when he met Chandy to convey the party MLAs' decision.

Angry over George's public remarks against Mani after he presented the budget on March 13 amid protests by opposition LDF, eight KC(M) legislators headed by Mani have sought removal of the party vice chairman from the post of government Chief Whip and barring him from attending the liaison committee meeting of UDF.
The rift between Mani and George also turned violent today with their supporters clashing at a party office here.
Supporters of George in the party's student wing KSC(M) clashed with official Mani-led faction for not inviting them for a meeting of the organisation.
Some of the injured activists have been admitted in a hospital here, police said.