Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 08: Kerala opposition leader V S Achuthanandan today asked Chief Minister A K Antony to step down in view of the UDF partners' rejection of the move to seek a confidence vote, mooted as a way out of the present crisis. "The rejection of the move to seek a trust vote by the UDF constituents amounted to expression of their lack of faith in the Chief Minister. He should step down as the constituents of the ruling front have lost their confidence in him," the CPI-M leader told a press meet here.

He was referring to yesterday's meeting of non-Congress partners in the ruling front, which had reportedly rejected the idea of the government going for a trust vote to end the uncertainty posed by the Karunakaran faction's rebellion against Antony. Achuthanandan wanted government to urgently call the assembly session to consider the opposition resolution seeking removal of speaker Vakkom Purushothaman.

Bureau Report