In less than two months after Kerala finance minister K. Mani tripped over bargate, the UDF suffered a second jolt on Saturday when excise and fisheries minister K. Babu also had to bow out on the same issue after Thrissur vigilance court directed the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau to book him for graft. Mr Babu put up a brave face, saying there was no direct remark against him and that he was resigning even before getting a copy of the vigilance order.

He sought to turn the tables on the Opposition LDF, alleging that a conspiracy was hatched by CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Bar Owners Association working president Biju Ramesh at the residence of CPM leader V. Sivankutty, MLA, in Thiruvanantha-puarm on December 15 2014.

But vigilance judge S.S. Vasan left no one in doubt about the import of his order when he rubbished vigilance SP Nisanthini’s request for another month to wrap up the quick verification. He fumed over the team’s failure to file the QF report against the minister within six weeks and ordered the first progress report by February 22.

The order was based on a petition filed by Thrissur-based Malayalavedi George Vattukulam, who sought a probe against Mr Babu based on Bar Owners Association working president Biju Ramesh’s statement to the media.

The resignation came on a day the ruling front had least expected it, especially on the happy occasion of the weekend flag-off of Kochi Metro’s trial run.

UDF leaders, including chief minister Oommen Chandy, who were on the podium were caught off guard as the court was expected to grant more time to the vigilance bureau to file its preliminary report. This is the third resignation from the Chandy Cabinet. The first was by forest minister K.B. Ganesh (Kerala Congress-B) following allegations of domestic violence by his wife in April 2013.

The LDF camp is suddenly upbeat, hoping to capitalise on the recurrent setbacks to the UDF from the court on sex and sleaze, with just about three months to go for the Assembly elections.