Kuruvila to submit resignation tomorrow

Thodupuzha, Sep 2 (UNI) Kerala Public Works Minister T U Kuruvila, allegedly involved in 'murky' land deals, will submit his resignation tomorrow.

The decision to submit the resignation was approved by the Working Committee meeting of Kerala Congress (Joseph) here today.

''Mr Kuruvila had expressed his willingness to resign and this was approved at the meeting,'' KC(J) Chairman P J Joseph told newspersons after the meeting.

Regarding a new Minister for the party in the LDF government, he said the party's executive meeting on September 15 would decide on it.

Mr Kuruvila had expressed his willingness to resign after the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) demanded a judicial inquiry into his alleged role in the land deals.

Soon after the LDF's demand, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had said it would be fair if the Minister stepped down from the ministry during the course of the inquiry.

He had said Mr Kuruvila could come back to the Cabinet if he was proved innocent.

Trouble broke out for Mr Kuruvila after an NRI businessman alleged that the Minister's family members failed to execute a deal for the sale of 50.52 acres of land in Munnar.

He was allegedly offered the land for construction of resorts in the emerging tourist destination.

Revenue authorities had also found that land transaction by Mr Kuruvila's family members at Rajakumari village was done ''dubiously'' after tampering with records and violating revenue rules.

UNI