Kuruvilla decides to quit Cabinet

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla said here yesterday he is quitting the Cabinet, setting at rest speculation over his fate after several allegations of corruption involving him appeared in the media.

Kuruvilla's fate had been in the balance ever since Kuwait-based businessman K.G. Abraham accused the minister of cheating him in a land deal in Munnar.

Abraham said he had paid Rs67.5 million (Dh6.1 million) to Kuruvilla and his family for about 20 hectares of land, but had been "cheated" in the deal.

The minister denied the allegation, but an adverse report by Idukki collector Raju Narayanaswamy against the manner in which the Kuruvilla clan had closed the land deal had put the minister under pressure.

There was also strong pressure on Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to sack Kuruvilla from the ministry, given the chief minister's highly publicised stand against land mafia.

In an interaction with media persons here yesterday, Kuruvilla said he felt Achuthanandan had not done justice to him.

"I would not say he did injustice, but he did not do justice to me. After so much noise was raised about the land deal I had sought to clarify the matter personally but I was not called by him to ask about it. In that sense, I was not given justice," he said.

Amid rumours that the Kerala Congress (Joseph) would leave Kuruvilla's ministerial post vacant until the judicial inquiry into his land deal was completed, Kuruvilla said he would not ask his party to do so.

"I would not ask the party to keep the post vacant for me, and I do not wish to return [to the minister's job]," he said.

An official statement on Kuruvilla's resignation is expected today when the Kerala Congress leadership meets at Thodupuzha at the residence of party chief P.J. Joseph.

Kuruvilla had become minister exactly one year ago when Joseph himself was forced to quit following an allegation that he misbehaved with a woman passenger on a flight to Kochi.