: Dissident Kerala Congress(M) MLA P C George today moved the Kerala High Court, challenging the dual positions K M Mani held as party chairman and a member of the State Cabinet, which according to him was against party bylaws.
In the petition, he questioned the action of Mani being sworn in as Minister for Finance, Law and Housing in the Cabinet "by violating Clause XXII of the Constitution" of KC(M), which was accepted and approved by the Election Commission for the purpose of continuation its registration.
George cited Clause XXII of the party's constitution which reads "if the party chairman, vice chairman, treasurer or secretaries became a minister, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, they shall resign their previous post before assuming charge as Minister, Speaker or Deputy Speaker."
Alleging that Mani has committed "clear fraud on the Election Commission and also on the public at large", George said "the said fraud in itself is a ground to unseat" him from the portfolio of Minister.
He said it is also a ground to deregister Kerala Congress(M) as a political party.
Last week, Kerala Congress(M) high-power committee, chaired by Mani, had suspended George as vice-chairman and member of all party committees, reducing him to the status of only a member.
The party had accused George of persistently ridiculing it and the UDF leadership.
