Embattled Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani may be bracing to witness the most inauspicious Diwali yet during his 50 years of active political career.

But a defiant Mani is learnt to have decided not to submit himself to pressure for demands to resign after yesterday's adverse comments by the Kerala High Court in the bar bribery case.

Thomas Unniyadan, Chief Whip in the State Assembly and a senior leader of the Kerala Congress (Mani), stated as such while speaking to newspersons this morning.

'Mere observations'

The octogenarian Mani, who is also Chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST), is of the opinion that the High Court's comments are merely its observations and do not amount to a verdict against him in the bar bribery case.

So long as the court has not held him guilty, it should not affect his status as a minister, Unniyadan said.

This has apparently enraged leaders of the Congress as well as other partners in the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition who have stepped up their demand for his resignation.

Meetings being held

The ruling coalition has called for a meeting of highest representative body this morning. The Kerala Congress (Mani), which is its third largest partner, is also meeting separately to analyse the crisis and take a decision. It is reliably known that the party has decided to skip the meeting of the coalition.

Meanwhile, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has declared an all-out protest campaign against Mani if he does not resign and has warned that it would not rest until he does it.

News channels also report that if it comes to it, Mani will not resign alone and intends to take other members of the party in the UDF ministry along with him.

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