Kerala: CPI(M) state secretary demands removal of Finance Minister KM Mani from GST Empowered

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Friday sought removal of Finance Minister K M Mani from the post of the chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Balakrishnan said that Mani, who is facing a Vigilance investigation into the allegation that he accepted bribe from bar owners to renew their liquor licenses, was not eligible for the post.

"K M Mani who is involved in the bar bribery issue still heads the Finance Ministers' GST high-power committee and must be removed", he said.

Balakrishnan alleged that Mani, who is the Chairman of Kerala Congress(M), was chosen for the post due to the 'tie up' of UDF and BJP. The BJP which raised its voice vigorously against Mani's budget was now maintaining a studied silence which shows the 'tie up' of UDF and BJP, Kodiyeri said.

He also demanded a probe on the assets of Mani and his son Jose K Mani. Kerala Congress (M) Vice-Chairman and former Chief Whip, P C George should be made a witness in the bar bribery case against Mani, he said.

Referring to the RSP, which was part of LDF for more than 30 years and quit it over allocation of Lok Sabha seat,he said the party should correct its mistake.

"We have no political enmity against them. Janata Dal(U) defected from the Left Front not because of any political reasons. The UDF ditched them by depriving them of the Rajya Sabha seat", he said.