The government decision on pursuing the solar scam is sure to dominate the discussions at the Congress Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting here on Saturday.
The government’s decision to convene a special session of the Assembly to table the Sivarajan Commission report on the solar scam in deference to the Opposition’s demand and the move to seek a second legal opinion of a former Supreme Court judge on the issue have apparently given the UDF a psychological advantage.
The attempts of the PAC, which is touted as the collective voice of the party, will be to project a picture of unity. The right moves have already been made, beginning with senior leaders reportedly thrashing out a general understanding on the composition of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general body. They do not expect a voice of dissent to come out of the meeting.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) high power committee meeting in Kozhikode the other day had clearly expressed the need to project unity, putting the onus on the Congress leadership. The Indian Union Muslim League’s working committee, which met in Malappuram to assess the Vengara byelection results, also strongly threw its weight behind former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, not to mention Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala who was sharp in his criticisms while picking holes in its decisions on the solar scam cases.
If anything, the Congress and UDF is expected to step up its anti-CPI(M) stance. This could be reflected in Mr. Chennithala’s month-long Padayorukkam campaign from November 1 against the Centre and State government’s unpopular policies. The UDF has already tweaked up its anti-CPI(M) slogans as a result of the decisions on pursuing the solar cases. The Congress and the UDF will also have to take re-look at its strategies, since the special Assembly session is being held in the midst of the long march that would be flagged off from Uppla in Kasargod on November 1.
