AP: Image-wary Congress likely to sack convicted minister

Hyderabad: Even as convicted secondary education minister K Parthasarathy met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the second consecutive day on Thursday, he is likely to be shown the door with the Congress high command keen on improving their image which took a beating after the bypolls. Moreover, the minister seems to be headed for more trouble as he concealed the fact that a case was pending against him during the 2004 and 2008 elections.

The minister, who on Wednesday was convicted by the court for Economic Offences for violation of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, is understood to have laboured out an explanation before Kiran Kumar again Thursday. Parthasarathy told the chief minister that he was not guilty and was convicted because certain facts were not properly represented in court. He was accompanied by Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal.

Though the CM did not come out with an official reaction, he is understood to not have given Parthasarathy any assurance on his continuance in the cabinet. The Congress high command too is reportedly keen on easing him out and is expected to advise the CM to seek his resignation.

K Parthasarathy is likely to be shown the door with the Congress high command keen on improving their image.

Party state affairs in-charge and union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters in Delhi that he is yet to learn details of the conviction. “I will talk to the chief minister and take a decision by tomorrow,” Azad told reporters.

What would weigh heavily against Parthasarathy is the Election Commission goof-up. In affidavits filed along with his nomination papers in 2004 and 2009, he did not mention anything about the FERA case against him though charges were framed in 2001. Concealing facts in sworn affidavits could attract a jail term of up to six months, which can ruin the minister’s chances for any leniency.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)