Family dispute: Kerala minister submits resignation to CM

, Apr 1:

forest minister K B Ganesh Kumar on Monday submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Troubles mounted for the beleaguered Kumar after his wife alleged that she had been a victim of "domestic violence". Her accusation came hours after Kumar filed a divorce petition, putting the Congress-led

government in the state in a spot of bother.

The 46-year-old actor-turned-politician had so far put up a brave face and rubbished speculation that he would quit in the wake of fresh embarrassment for the UDF government even though questions were being raised on his continuing in the Cabinet. Kumar's KC(B) party is a minor partner in the UDF government, which enjoys a wafer-thin majority of three members.

The day witnessed high drama as both Kumar, who alleged that he was blackmailed, and his wife Yamini Thankachi traded charged after the former filed a divorce petition in a family court here. In the petition, Kumar said that he was even beaten up his wife in front of other people.

CM Chandy also found himself dragged into the controversy after an upset Yamini claimed that she did not get justice from the former even though he had promised to settle the issue. Moreover, Kumar's father and Kerala Congress (KC-B) chief R Balakrishna Pillai reiterated the party's demand to Chandy that he should be removed from the Cabinet for not obeying the party's stand.

The UDF leaders had recently put into place a truce between Kumar, his estranged father and wife. He expressed confidence of proving his innocence through an investigation.

Kumar was caught in the controversy last month after a news report said that he was beaten up by the husband of a woman with whom he allegedly had an affair. While Kumar said he was being blackmailed through some external influence, Yamini said it was she who had been a victim of domestic violence for the last 16 years for questioning her husband's "illicit affairs".

The couple has two children.

OneIndia News