The much-talked about meeting of the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) State committee to discuss the bar bribery charges will take place here on Monday against the backdrop of sharp exchanges between the CPI(M) and the CPI over the issue and the latter’s worries about the intentions of the CPI(M).
With their statements and actions, leaders of the two parties have made it clear that they are not on the same page on how to respond to the allegation that Finance Minister K.M. Mani had taken a bribe of Rs.1 crore from bar owners.
The CPI is clear that the matter should be the subject of a judicial inquiry. The CPI(M) does not agree. There is no agreement within the CPI(M) on the issue. Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has taken his own position on the issue.
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He first sought a Vigilance investigation and later demanded a CBI probe. As the divided Opposition groped in the dark, the government quickly order a preliminary examination by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).
The CPI is sore that the CPI(M) did not show enough enthusiasm to convene a meeting of the LDF State committee and announce a series of agitations to force the government to do something more.
The party had sought an LDF meeting on November 2, immediately after the allegations erupted, but in vain. It then announced a ‘Secretariat March’ on its own.
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Finally, a meeting was fixed for November 10 but it failed to materialise following CMP leader M.V. Raghavan’s death.
The CPI went ahead with its march. The decision to have the meeting on Monday was taken following this.
The LDF committee has the tough task of finding a common ground on the issue as it will not be able to decide on an agitation without first arriving at a consensus on what the LDF wants the government to do.