VS Achuthanandan's remark: Ramesh knocks EC doors

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After chief minister Oommen Chandy, home minister Ramesh Chennithala has taken legal route against opposition leader V S Achuthanandan.
Chennithala has petitioned the election commission against the allegations made by the opposition leader that there are nine cases against him. In his petition to chief electoral officer E K Majhi, the home minister has said that Achuthanandan's allegation that there are 136 cases against the 18 ministers in the cabinet, including the chief minister and home minister, are meant to mislead the voters and tarnish the character of the ministers.
He said that the allegations levelled by Achuthanandan in his article appeared in a vernacular daily were false. "Being the minister in-charge of the vigilance, I am competent to say that the number of corruption cases against all the ministers is falsely stated with an intend to defame the personal character of ministers, including me, who are contesting from various constituencies," he said in his petition.
The minister said that Achuthanandan's statement in relation to personal character and conduct of ministers will amount to corrupt practice under section 123 (4) of the Representation of People Act and legal actions should be taken against him in this regard.
Achuthanandan had on April 23, in his election campaign speech in Chakkarrakkal in Dharmadom, Kannur, said that there are 136 corruption cases pending against ministers except a lady minister in various courts.