Kerala Excise Minister K Babu has said that there is no rethink on his decision to resign even as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy delayed for a fourth day referral of his resignation to the Governor.

Sources close to the minister said he was busy preparing to vacate his office and official residence and has already applied for an alternative accommodation at the MLA's quarters here.

Babu had announced his decision to resign in Kochi and handed over the letter to the Chief Minister after a vigilance court in Thrissur ordered an inquiry against him in the bar bribery case.

He is the second minister in the Congress-led United Democratic Front Government to have been forced to step down in the bar bribery case after KM Mani quit as Finance in last November.

Meanwhile, sources in the government said here that it was a 'matter of time' before the Chief Minister conveyed to the Governor's office the matter of Babu's resignation.

This is likely to happen after the state Cabinet meets later today. It is likely that the Cabinet also take cues from the High Court's response to Babu's plea to get the vigilance court's order vacated.

But sources quoted earlier have maintained that his decision to stand down as a minister is final irrespective of what the High Court may have to say.

Babu was sought to be implicated on charges by bar hotelier Biju Ramesh that he had handed over an amount of Rs 50 lakh to Babu's office last year for favours sought with respect to the state's liquor policy.

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