The State appears to be in for a bitter battle between the government and the Opposition and many more potentially embarrassing revelations about the ‘solar scam,’ involving a husband-wife duo with close links to those in power, in the days to come.
The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) is all set to go into a huddle on Monday to discuss the strategy to be adopted in the light of disclosures about the alleged scam that has put Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and several Congress and ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders on the defensive. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has refused to offer any comment on the disclosures, which had forced him to show the door to two of his close confidantes in his personal staff. In telephone interviews granted to various TV channels, one of the accused Biju Radhakrishnan has held former Forest Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar of having rocked his family life and his business leading to the furore.
Government Chief Whip P.C. George has made matters even more difficult for Mr. Chandy and the UDF by unleashing a scathing attack on Mr. Ganesh Kumar over the issue. Although Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K. Kunhalikkutty and Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani have tried to brush aside the allegations, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala has, very significantly, refused to offer any comment on the issue for the time being. The sounds and silences in the UDF is suggestive of the fissures that are there in the ruling alliance.
Not many in the Congress have been able to come up with convincing answers for their presence at functions organised by the husband-wife duo and their Team Solar outfit or the way they interacted with the duo at various points in time. Raising the issue in the Assembly, the Opposition had sought a judicial probe into the scam. However, the government has rejected the demand. Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has made it clear that there cannot be a judicial probe when an investigation under the provisions of the Cr.PC is on. However, the Opposition is likely to press ahead with its demand when the Assembly resumes its sitting on Monday.
