actional crosscurrents are all set to become the new headache for the Congress leadership ahead of local bodies' elections. The allegations of corruption in the Consumerfed and the subsequent decision to suspend the federation’s director board as a prelude to a comprehensive Vigilance probe, has become the trigger for another round of controversy that might not remain within the boundaries of factional tussles that Congressmen are used to.
The controversy is centred on the demand of Congress legislator T.N. Pratapan for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation on the basis of the internal reports submitted by various officials. Mr. Pratapan is known to be a sympathiser of KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran and, therefore, a lot is being read into the CBI probe demand since it was made after Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced his intention to go in for a comprehensive inquiry by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Mr. Pratapan, in his letter to the Chief Minister seeking the CBI probe, cited that a probe by the Central agency was necessary owing to the inter-State transactions of Consumerfed, but sugar-coated it by welcoming the Vigilance probe. Without being explicit, Mr. Pratapan ended up expressing doubts about the effectiveness of a Vigilance probe. The letter has been interpreted as an indirect expression of lack of confidence in Mr. Chennithala, who heads the Vigilance Department.
The factional duels have broken out at an inopportune time when the party should be gearing up for the local bodies elections. It appears that Mr. Sudheeran is determined to rock the two main factions, making Mr. Chennithala his primary target. The disquiet in the party, sources said, will have its cascading effect on the local-level committees which are gearing up for the candidate selection process within a week’s time.
MLA tells CM that probe by the Central agency is necessary owing to the inter-State transactions of Consumerfed
