The Nationalist Congress Party on Sunday threw its weight behind Transport Minister Thomas Chandy, who is in the docks for alleged encroachment of government land and reclamation of backwaters around the resort he owns in Kumarakom, the well-known tourism destination.
The party’s affirmative action came in the form of the expulsion of Nationalist Youth Congress state president Mujib Rahman, who lost his job for criticising the minister in television debates and in public. The disciplinary action was taken against the youth leader by NCP leader Praful Patel, who is in charge of Kerala.
The party leadership has also asked three district committees to given an explanation for their criticisms against the minister. NCP state president T.P. Peethambaran Master told a television channel that the party was fully with Mr. Chandy and the allegations against him were baseless.
The allegations had been doing the rounds with media debates pointing the needle of suspicion to the minister, he said. Action would be taken against the leaders who criticise the party leadership in television debates, he said.
Mr. Rahman had been harsh in his criticisms in television debates and even demanded an inquiry against the minister. He had attracted the wrath of the party leadership on several occasions earlier.
Mr. Rahman did not budge from his stand demanding a probe against the minister while reacting to the quit notice. It was quite clear from the beginning that Mr. Chandy had the support of the national and state leaders, giving him considerable space to face the allegations that has now been picked up by the United Democratic Front.