P. C. George resigns as Member of Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Government Chief Whip P. C. George submitted his resignation as member of the Assembly to the Speaker here today.

Mr. George’s resignation comes when the Speaker is to pronounce his verdict on the petition seeking Mr. George’s disqualification for defection in a petition filed by Government Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan (Kerala Congress-M).

The Speaker, after receiving the resignation letter from Mr. George, told the media that he would decide on the matter after examining legal issues (as petition for his resignation was pending before him).

Mr. George maintained that the Speaker should be accepting the resignation immediately if a member has given the resignation letter in his own handwriting.

Mr. George— who lost his position as Chief Whip following fight with Kerala Congress chairman K.  M. Mani, told the media that he was happy that Mr. Mani had resigned as Finance Minister. He had advised him to do so earlier. If he had listened to him, Mr. Mani would have been in a better position now.

He wondered why Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had accepted Mr. Mani’s resignation while maintaining that Mr. Mani was innocent. He alleged that Mr. Chandy was behind alleged bribe-taking by Excise Minister K. Babu and others.

Making a dig at Mr. Mani, Mr. George said that he was not interested in receptions following his resignation. It would be better to contribute the amount needed for receptions to orphanages.