Jaya verdict rekindles Pillai's hopes

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, SEPT. 22. Mr. R Balakrishna Pillai, MLA, today said that he hoped that those who had committed a `mistake' by not considering him for ministership, will be reconsidering their view in the light of the Supreme Court order disqualifying Ms. Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Talking to reporters informally here, Mr. Pillai said that he was not disqualified by the Election Commissioner. "But the Congress had supported Ms. Jayalalithaa, who was disqualified by the Election Commission (EC), for the chief ministership of Tamil Nadu. But the Congress-led front in Kerala, excluded me from ministership under the pretext of suspicion."

He argued that he considered the Supreme Court verdict as a sort of victory for him. The Supreme Court has ruled that Ms. Jayalalithaa was not legally eligible to become the Chief Minister because she was disqualified from contesting as an MLA. In his case, he was declared as qualified to contest for elections by the EC and he could win as an MLA. Hence, the SC verdict is a victory because it indirectly meant that there was nothing legally wrong in him becoming a Minister, he said.

The Kerala Congress(B) will be holding the party secretariat meeting within two days in view of the developments. "The party will decide who will become the Minister. But I am not for ministership. Now, I think not being a Minister is a good situation as he could travel wherever he pleased and speak out whatever he thought."

Earlier, inaugurating the annual conference of the Kerala Water Authority Qualified Operating Staff Union here, Mr. Pillai said that service organisations and trade unions should try to function independent of political parties.

He gave a clean chit to the Government by saying that the UDF had not started real governance. "The social background for the governance has not come. It will take more time. The big debts should be cleared before that. There are people who are `sensible and knowledgeable' in this Cabinet."

Mr. V. Balaram, MLA, presided. The general secretary, Mr. Sainudeen Cherukkad, and the treasurer, Mr. Jose Thaikkad, were among those who spoke on the occasion.

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Section  : Southern States
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