Minister offers to quit following rift with father

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — Kerala’s Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar yesterday offered his resignation following sharp differences with his father and party chief R Balakrishna Pillai.

Kumar, a popular film and television actor, announced his decision after his father removed him as the vice-president of his Kerala Congress (B) party. However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, whose government is surviving on a narrow margin, turned down the offer.

“There is no political compul(after a jail term in a graft case) sions that warrant his resignation and offered my resignation. I won’t and there’s no pressure on him to do cling on to any position,” said Kuso,” Chandy told reporters here. “I mar after attending a meeting of the cannot divulge the entire details to party where he faced protests from you at this juncture”. leaders. “I won’t indulge in corrup

Kumar was removed from the tion”. party post dramatically as Pillai, Pillai said the minister was not who is the chairman, rushed through heeding the party and party could the agenda at the meeting before he survive without a minister who’s not arrived. Kumar left the venue as the co-operating with the party. Kumar protests by his father’s men grew. is the lone legislator of the party

“I met the CM immediately after which is a constituent of the UDF. Mr Balakrishna Pillai was released —