Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his supporters continued to sulk over Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V.M. Sudheeran’s refusal to go all out to defend former Minister K. Babu, who is facing a Vigilance probe.
The issue figured in the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting on Saturday and on the basis of its decision, Mr. Sudheeran made an official statement terming the Vigilance inquiry a political vendetta against Mr. Babu.
“The party usually expresses its opinion on corruption inquiries at the national and State levels based on its merits. In the case of Mr. Babu, the Vigilance probe has not succeed in coming up with convincing evidence. The PAC meeting assessment is that the current probe against Mr. Babu is political vendetta,” Mr. Sudheeran said.
Asked about the delay in giving his reactions, Mr. Sudheeran said it had become clear only now that the probe was a ‘vendetta’.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala also defended Mr. Sudheeran stating it was only a democratic principle to discuss an issue in party forums before making a public statement.
However, Mr. Chandy and his supporters were not impressed by Mr. Sudheeran’s amended positions.
They still feel that Mr. Sudheeran had failed to clear the air.
His position itself reeked of ‘political vendetta’ as he had not gone all out to defend the former Minister.
Mr. Chandy and his supporters were conspicuously absent from continued parleys by PAC members on Sunday morning.
Neither were any of his representatives present at the press conference Mr. Sudheeran convened or to see off AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, who returned to Delhi on Sunday.
