Facing opposition demands for his resignation in the wake of the solar panel scam,Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Friday met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and explained his position. Although the party high command is convinced with his argument,sources said he has been advised to ensure that the party deeply divided on factional lines remains united. Chandy said he expected the high command to give its green signal for effecting a cabinet reshuffle soon and asserted the Congress-led government will complete its full term. He reiterated that KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala was welcome to join his cabinet,but did not spell out what portfolio he would get. The high command will soon decide on the cabinet reshuffle. I will be the happiest man if he (Chennithala) joins the cabinet. I have twice invited him in the past,but he opted out and continued as the KPCC chief, he said. Party sources said he has been asked to take steps to keep the Congress and the UDF together in the wake of spurt in infighting. Asked about his fate after meetings with the party leadership,he said the high command has many channels to secure information. It gets information from so many sources and my argument is only the one among them, he said. The CM also rejected opposition demands for his resignation and argued a judicial inquiry,if need be,would be ordered only after the police investigation into the case is over. The opposition has been demanding a judicial probe. We have nothing to hide. We are open and are ready for any inquiry. If we order a judicial probe before completion of police probe,the culprits will get a chance to escape. They may seek legal remedy, he said. Asked whether the main accused,Saritha Nair,had met him when he was in Delhi last year to attend NDC meeting,he said,When I examined the matter,it came to my knowledge that she was at the gate of the Vigyan Bhawan when I came out after the meeting. I did not see her. There was no talk or discussion. Kerela CMs economic adviser resigns Thiruvananthapuram: The economic adviser of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,Shaffi Mather,has resigned. Chandy accepted the resignation Thursday but refused to comment on the exit of his economic adviser,a post created 14 months ago. Shaffi,however,said he resigned on moral ground after his brother,Rafi,alleged that he was troubling Rafis family by misusing his post. Rafi had complained to Chandy against his brother. Shaffi said he had never talked to any government officer about his family matters,as was alleged.
