‘Lokayukta verdict is a setback for CM, he should resign instead of clinging to power’, says K Surendran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president K Surendran has responded to the Lokayukta verdict in the relief fund diversion case against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He said that the Chief Minister should resign instead of clinging to power as one of the judges in the three-member bench ruled against the verdict.

“It is incorrect to interpret that the verdict is in favour of the Chief Minister. The verdict questions the morality of the Chief Minister. The one-year delay in declaring the verdict raised suspicions. He should resign instead of clinging to power.”, demanded Surendran.

It was decided to leave the case to the full bench due to the differences of opinion between Lokayukta Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice Haroon Al Rasheed over the verdict in the case.

One of the judges ruled in favor of the complaint and the other against it. The difference was whether the case was maintainable and whether the matter could be examined by the Lokayukta. With this, it was decided to leave the complaint to the full bench of the Lokayukta for the final verdict.