Talks on to save Kuruvilla from ignominious exit

Thiruvananthapuram: Hectic parleys continued in the Kerala capital yesterday in a last-ditch effort to save Kerala Congress (J) leader and Public Works Department Minister T.U. Kuruvilla's place in the state cabinet.

Kuruvilla has been on shaky ground for a week, following allegations that he and his family members had tried to make quick money in a land deal involving Kuwait-based Keralite businessman K.G. Abraham.

Yesterday's confabulations came even as the ruling Left Democratic Front committee is scheduled to discuss the issue tomorrow before arriving at a final decision.

Kerala Congress (J) chief P.J. Joseph himself is seen by political observers to be leading the attempts to save his party colleague.

Ironically, Joseph himself lost his cabinet berth at around Onam time last year when he was forced to quit following an allegation that he had misbehaved with a woman passenger on a Chennai-Kochi flight.

Similar predicament

Joseph's resignation catapulted Kuruvilla into the cabinet, but he could now face his mentor's predicament.

Abraham made headlines when he approached the media saying that Kuruvilla and his family members had "cheated" him in connection with a land deal in Munnar.

While party chief P.J. Joseph tried to assuage coalition party leaders as to Kuruvilla's innocence, the latter himself has reportedly been at pains to explain his position to Left Democratic Front leaders.

Kuruvilla's sons had earlier met Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to clarify that their father was not directly involved in the land deal. Achuthanandan, however, is under pressure to take action against Kuruvilla since Idukki collector Raju Narayanaswamy has given an adverse report in the case.