Although the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Congress have scored a massive political point by deciding to shut down bars, save those in five-star hotels, across the State, cracks in the party and the front over the decision appear to be widening.
Indicating as much, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy called on Congress Working Committee (CWC) member A.K. Antony at his residence here on Wednesday. While there was nothing unusual about the visit as the Chief Minister was about to leave for Thrissur and he did not disclose anything about was discussed, Mr. Antony gave sufficient hints of what was going on, telling the media that whatever issues there were in the party were being tackled.
Terming reports about a possible flare-up in the party unfounded, Mr. Antony said, “This is nothing but a storm in a teacup. I have seen such things for a long time. There are very experienced leaders in the Kerala party who are capable of resolving such issues. They are working on whatever problems there are. No flare-up of the kind that the media expects will happen,” he said.
Mr. Antony insisted that there was nothing unusual about his meeting with the Chief Minister. “I am very much a part of the Kerala party,” he said, adding that it was normal for him to meet the Chief Minister, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, and leaders such as Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala whenever he was in the State.
‘Credit to people’Asked who should get the credit for the government decision to move in the direction of prohibition, Mr. Antony said the credit should first go to the people and then to the government, the UDF, the Chief Minister, and the KPCC leadership. All leaders were moving together in preparation for the panchayat elections.
Mr. Antony’s remarks came shortly after the weekly Cabinet meeting where several Ministers expressed the view that the government should have gone slow on the clampdown on sale of hard liquor. Several of them felt that the government should have taken the decision after a detailed consideration, and factoring in the possibility of the State becoming a victim of bootlegging and the need to rehabilitate the workers.
