Finance Minister KM Mani must step down, says Oppn

 Monday, March 19, 2012: State opposition leader and CPM stalwart VS Achuthanandan today alleged that Finance Minister K.M Mani had failed to keep his Budget proposals secret.
Addressing the presspersons here on Monday, VS added that K.M Mani had not privilege to continue in the post and hence must step down. Presenting the budget Mani announced the enhancement of the age of retirement of State employees and teachers to 56 years from the present 55 years.
The announcement drew instant protest from the Opposition, which was already agitated over what it termed ‘leak’ of budget contents to the media.