KOCHI, April 14 -- K T Jaleel, the controversial Minister for Higher Education in Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet, resigned on Tuesday. The resignation came after the findings by the Lok Ayukt that Jaleel has committed impropriety and was guilty of "nepotism, abuse of power and violation of oath office" in appointing KT Adeeb, his close relation as the general manager of Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation in 2016.

The last three days saw the CPI(M) and its intellectual giants like Minister AK Balan and politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan ruling out Jaleel's resignation. But things took a turn for the worse on Monday following revelations that it was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who had signed the papers auth...