Solar scam: Chandy to hold talks with UDF partners

Opposition stance on terms of reference for judicial probe

August 28, 2013 03:05 am | Updated November 16, 2021 09:22 pm IST - Thiruvananthapuram:

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Photo: K. Pichumani

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Photo: K. Pichumani

In view of the difficulty in convening a full house meeting of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will hold discussions with coalition leaders on the Opposition letter demanding the inclusion of the Chief Minister’s office and the Chief Minister in the terms of reference (ToR) of the proposed judicial inquiry into the solar scam.

It has almost become certain that the UDF committee will be convened only after the coalition leaders get an opportunity to present their cases before Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is expected to be here on a three-day visit starting September 6.

The Indian Union Muslim League and the Kerala Congress (M), which claim to have certain issues that needed the Congress high command’s attention, have sought an appointment with her on September 6, Congress sources say.

The two major UDF partners want their issues to be sorted out first. It is in this context that Mr. Chandy has decided to meet UDF leaders in an informal manner, sources say.

Congress leaders here say that they will not be surprised if Mr. Chandy holds one-to-one talks with coalition leaders. The Opposition had given its reply to a letter by Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan seeking views on the ToR.

Simultaneously, Left leaders had made it clear that there was no compromise on the demand to include the Chief Minister in the ToR. The Cabinet on Friday briefly took stock of the current situation, but did not take any decision on the ToR. In any case, it is for the Cabinet and not the UDF to take a decision on the ToR, sources say.

Mr. Chandy has already taken all responsibility for the decisions being taken in connection with the solar scam.

It is not clear whether the State government will put forward a counter proposal to get the LDF to withdraw its agitation prior to the announcement of the ToR as demanded by it.

Currently, the two camps have taken unflinching positions on the ToR.

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