A P Anilkumar, who had resigned as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Welfare and Culture Minister from the Oomen Chandy Cabinet in Kerala [Images] on Tuesday, withdrew his resignation on Thursday.

Addressing reporters at the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, Anilkumar said the circumstances that led to his resignation had changed.

Anilkumar said he had submitted his resignation after he felt the CM had lost trust in him. But Chandy had expressed full confidence in him and had asked him to continue.

Anilkumar resigned after party members questioned his absence from the Congress Legislature Party meeting on March 21. They said he owed his allegiance to Congress dissident leader K Karunakaran.

However, Chandy had maintained that Anilkumar's resignation would not be accepted. The CM told reporters that the resignation issue was a 'closed chapter'.

"I do not find any reason to accept his resignation and his stance is supportive to the party and the government," he said.

Several Congress leaders, including former CM A K Antony had asked Chandy not to press for the resignation.

Earlier reports:

Kerala minister Anil Kumar resigns

Cong to take action against Kerala dissidents