Thiruvananthapuram: Factional differences evaporated on the Solar “vendetta politics” as the Congress Political Affairs Committee on Saturday resolved to fight it “politically and legally”. The lone voice of dissent was that of the ace dissenter, V. M. Sudheeran, who did not think it had to be fought “politically”.
KPCC president M. M. Hassan told the media that Congress would expose the LDF’s game plan against the Congress and its leaders.
High drama prevailed at the PAC at Indira Bhavan as Mr Hassan and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala tried to dissuade Mr Sudheeran from taking a strident position prior to the meeting. He was convinced that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was above board on the molestation charge but felt there was lapse at the level of the former CM’s office.
Several leaders, not just Mr Suheeran, were sore with the proposal for the KPCC list, which would deprive the party of true representation. Senior AICC leader P. C. Chacko, Alappuzha DCC president M. Liju and AICC secretary in charge of Karanataka, P. C. Vishnunath, had also expressed their displeasure before the AICC leadership, a PAC member told DC.
Mr M. I. Shahnavas, MP, said both the BJP and the CPM were united in their effort to tarnish the image of the Congress. He said he would not allow his colleagues to be ripped apart by political adversaries.
Mr Chandy said the solar case would not stand in court. Mr K. C. Venugopal, MP, said the Congress would perish if they wait for the court’s verdict. The meeting then decided not to hold any protests against the LDF Government on the solar scam judicial commission’s recommendations.
“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had maintained that the judicial commission report needs to be submitted in the Assembly within six months. But later within a week, he realized his folly and sought legal opinion a second time”, Mr Hassan told reporters after the PAC meeting.
Mr Sudheeran urged Mr Chennithala to make the Solar case the main topic in his Yatra, ‘Padayorukkam’, and explain Congress-UDF stand instead of taking out any protest now.
