Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Minister K B Ganesh Kumar launched a scathing attack on former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his son, MLA Chandy Oommen, accusing the late leader of betraying him and wrecking his family under the guise of mediation.

Ganesh Kumar alleged that Oommen Chandy intervened in a family dispute in a manner that resulted in his family being torn apart. “It was Oommen Chandy who mediated in a way that destroyed my family, stripped everything away and separated me from my children. Will Oommen Chandy or his son answer for that injustice?” he asked.

Claiming that he was forced to resign as a minister without any wrongdoing on his part, Ganesh Kumar said he was punished for refusing to hand over forest land in Nelliampathy to vested interests. He further alleged that Oommen Chandy had promised to make him a minister by removing the then Cooperation Minister C N Balakrishnan after the parliamentary elections, a claim he said had witnesses besides Kodikunnil Suresh, but the promise was never honoured.

Ganesh Kumar’s remarks came in response to a recent statement by Chandy Oommen, who alleged that Ganesh Kumar had encouraged solar case accused Saritha to cast allegations against Oommen Chandy for monetary gain.

Rejecting the charge, Ganesh Kumar said it was Chandy Oommen’s conspiracy to turn members of the Christian community against him. He asserted that he had never given a statement to the CBI against Oommen Chandy and warned against provoking him further. “Do not act like a hired thug. Oommen Chandy had never said that I betrayed him,” he said.

‘Never expected such an attack’

Responding to Ganesh Kumar’s allegations, Chandy Oommen said Oommen Chandy had shared a close relationship with Ganesh Kumar’s family and had never expected such an attack from him. “Somewhere, his conscience seems to be asking him uncomfortable questions. That may be the reason for this outburst,” Chandy Oommen added.