Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani is expected to resign on Tuesday after being convinced by the steering committee of his party, the Kerala Congress (M), which is a constitutent of the ruling United Democratic Front, that he was left with no alternative.
The longest standing Finance Minister in the Kerala government, who has always won from his home constituency of Pala, offered to resign after pressure mounted on him from all quarters to give up his post in the Cabinet.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president VM Sudheeran and Muslim League leaders had demanded Mani's resignation.
The Opposition Left Democratic Front led by the CPI(M) had also mounted a virulent campaign demanding that he step down.
Mani's decision is expected to be announced soon after a UDF meeting being held at 4pm on Tuesday. The UDF had given a 24-hour deadline to Mani to resign and had stuck by its demand in the face of threats in the morning by the KC(Mani) to withdraw support to the government.
Earlier in the day, former government chief whip PC George, a vehement critic of Mani, resigned as MLA and asked Mani to follow suit.
