Thomas Chandy speaks to media after Kerala High Court made scathing observations against him on Tuesday. Photo: Tony DominicThiruvananthapuram: Embattled transport minister Thomas Chandy resigned on Wednesday from the cabinet, defusing mounting tension within the ruling Left Democratic Front after CPI ministers skipped a cabinet meeting in an unprecedented development.
Here's a recall of what happened in the past 24 hours which turned out to be the final game for Thomas Chandy.
November 14, 2017
Vivek Tankha defends Chandy in HC
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha faces the ire of Youth Congress workers as they stage a protest against the senior Supreme Court lawyer's decision to defend Thomas Chandy in the Kerala High Court.
A group of Youth Congress workers raise slogans and wave black flags at Tankha as he steps out of a posh hotel to proceed to the High Court in Ernakulam.
HC observations
The court criticizes the minister for approaching it, challenging the government in which he is also a part.
The division bench observes that a minister cannot file a petition against his own government, which had ordered the district collector to look into the matter and submit a report.
There is violation of the collective cabinet responsibility by the minister, says the HC.
The bench says Chandy could approach the government or the collector if there are anomalies in the report.
Court gives Chandy an option to withdraw the petition, but he refuses to do so.
Defiant Chandy
Thomas Chandy says he would quit only if the observation against him is in the signed verdict of the High Court on his petition against the Alappuzha district collector's report. He cites a Supreme Court observation that court's oral observations need not be considered as a final verdict.
Chandy cancels his plan to go to New Delhi for a meeting with the national leadership of the NCP.
'Appropriate decision'
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan says "appropriate decision" would be taken at the right time.
In Kochi, the NCP state executive discusses the matter and decides to inform the national leadership about its decision on the matter.
November 15, 2017
Chandy-CM meet
Chandy meets chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his official residence ahead of a cabinet meeting.
The NCP leader reaches the Cliff House around 7.50 am along with NCP state president T P Peethambaran.
The chief minister suggests Chandy's stepping down would be the appropriate step. Chandy says he would attend the cabinet meeting and chief minister would take a decision after getting a copy of the court verdict
CPI ministers go into a huddle at revenue minister E Chandrasekharan's office.
CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran informs reporters that party ministers won't attend the cabinet
Finally, Chandy resigns
NCP announces transport minister Thomas Chandy has quit the ministry.
“I have submitted Thomas Chandy's resignation letter to the chief minister,” NCP state president T P Peethambaran tells reporters.
(With inputs frpm PTI)
Read: Latest Kerala news | Timeline of events that led to Thomas Chandy's resignation
