Kolkata, Jan 21 (IANS): Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Friday warned the Congress-led Kerala government that people of the southern state will give a befitting response if it proceeded with a case against "honest opposition leader" V.S. Achuthanandan.

"Everybody knows how many corrupt ministers are there in the UDF government of Kerala headed by Oommen Chandy. And that government frames a case against an honest opposition leader...People of Kerala will give them a good response if they try to proceed on this case," said Karat.

"We have discussed the matter. We are prepared to take this issue to the people and we will see how the people of Kerala respond to it," Karat told a media conference here.

Achuthanandan, named prime accused in a land transfer case by the Kerala vigilance department, is learned to have spoken to Prakash Karat and conveyed that he wished to step down as leader of opposition. However, the offer has been turned down.

The investigating team has named four Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials, including the then principal secretary to Achuthanandan, Sheela Thomas, as accused in the case.

The others in the list include the then revenue minister and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader K.P. Rajendran, besides the personal assistant to Achuthanandan, Suresh.

The cabinet also decided to cancel the land allotment in Kasargode district. The alleged land transfer took place at the fag end of Achuthanandan's tenure as the chief minister.