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Give up home, Antony tells Nayanar

Leader of Opposition in Kerala A K Antony has asked the Communist Party of India-Marxist to surrender the home portfolio to some other constituent of the ruling Left Democratic Front.

The demand follows the Kerala high court's direction to file a chargesheet against the chief secretary and certain police officials for contempt of court in the Payyavur panchayat election case.

Chief Minister E K Nayanar, who looks after the portfolio, should accept moral responsibility for the failure of his officials, Antony said.

If the chief secretary is not able to implement the high court's order to provide security to Congress members of the panchayat, who else would implement court orders under this government, he asked.

The rule of law was impossible under any CPI-M home minister as the administration has been shifted to the Marxist party's state headquarters at the AKG Centre and other CPI-M offices, he added.

Antony said the LDF partners should prevail upon getting the portfolio away from the CPI-M. Democratic forces should mobilise efforts in case the Marxists failed to correct their mistake.

He said officials and police personnel were under a fear psychosis in Kerala, as they were compelled to implement the orders of the Marxist party.

The high court had asked to file chargesheets against the chief secretary, panchayat deputy director, Kannur district, and a police superintendent and a sub inspector for not implementing its orders.

UNI

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