The Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani has resigned at the end of a day of dramatic political twists and turns late on Tuesday.
It comes in the context of adverse strictures passed against him by the Kerala High Court in the bar bribery case inviting prompt calls for resignation from not just the Opposition but also from the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition and even from his own party.
UNCEREMONIOUS EXITMani heads the nine-member Kerala Congress (Mani) party in the Kerala Assembly, which happens to be the third largest partner in the coalition.
He told a swarm of newspersons milling around his official residence here at 8 pm on Tuesday that he had sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister through a messenger.
The unceremonious exit for the octogenarian leader comes during the 50th year of his eventful political career during when he presented a record 13 State budgets.
Along with Mani, Government Chief Whip and a trusted lieutenant Thomas Unniyadan, too has tendered his resignation expressing moral support with his party chairman.
UNSTINTED SUPPORTMani said he would continue to extend his unstinted support to the UDF government which has a wafer thin majority.
The resignations capped a day during the course of which Mani's initial refusal to resign and 'threat' to take away all MLAs with him in the event of being forced to resign, risking a possible split in his own party.
A faction led by PJ Joseph, Water Resources Minister, was not willing to do Mani's bidding and insisted that they need not resign merely because Mani had to do it after he invited strictures from the High Court.
Meanwhile, Mani has not nominated a member of his party to succeed him as the Finance Minister.
Mani was also Chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Minister on Goods and Services Tax.