'I am innocent'

Speaking to the media after the walk-out by most members, Manjula said the meeting had been set according to the rule that such meetings should be organised every two months. “The members and the vice-president can discuss any topic, after the president permits. But they failed to do so. In turn, they boycotted the meeting.”

An analysis of the IEC funds is on. The chief officer will be able to answer any question on IEC only after the analysis is completed, the president said, explaining the reason for not including the topic in the agenda for the meeting.

She added that the vice-president had been consulted regarding the meeting. “He just said any date convenient for us was agreeable to him,” she said.

The president alleged that the JD(S)-Congress members were misbehaving since “we do not have a majority.”