Friday, January 13 2006 19:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Health Minister K K Ramachandran today (Jan 13, 2006) submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy following allegations against him and his office.

The allegations were that the Minister and his office had threatened some officials who had given statements to the Lok Ayukta in connection with a case relating to alleged corruption in transfers and postings in the health department.

While disclosing that he had received the Minister's resignation letter, Chandy told reporters that a decision on it would be taken after consultation with his senior party colleagues.

Defending his beleaguered colleague, Chandy said he was convinced that Ramachandran did not commit any irregularity as it was evident from the report given by I G, South Zone, who was asked to probe the facts regarding the charges made against the Minister.

The Chief Minister, however, said the probe had found that an Additional Personal Secretary (APS) in the minister's office had spoken to the District Medical Officer (DMO) in Wayanad in 'a threatening voice.'

The Minister had been asked to drop the APS from his personal staff.

Ramachandran's position became untenable after a television channel today aired the audio tape of a telephonic conservation he purportedly had with DMO in Wayanad, Raveendran, in which the minister sought to know about the statement he had given to the Lok Ayukta.