2021 Kerala polls: Left takes large political gamble with sexual abuse case in photo voltaic rip-off

Express News Service
KOCHI: The announcement handy over sexual abuse case in photo voltaic rip-off to the CBI at a time when the state is readying for meeting polls is an enormous political gamble by the CPM-led LDF. It exhibits the ruling entrance’s knee-jerk response to the Congress resolution to make Oommen Chandy, the pinnacle of the social gathering’s election administration and technique committee just a few days again, mentioned political observers.

They mentioned the LDF authorities’s transfer might boomerang because the questions can be raised as to why it waited until the final 12 months of their tenure to go for the CBI probe in a case the place a fee and court docket rulings are but to show the sexual allegations.

“The public can easily sense that it is politically motivated especially when the government is at the fag end of its tenure,” mentioned J Prabhash, political analyst and former professional vice-chancellor of Kerala University.

He mentioned the ruling Left entrance might have highlighted the federal government’s achievements earlier than the individuals. “But it seems they are not sure of their good work in their five-year rule. The CBI inquiry is only meant to corner the UDF,” Prabhash mentioned.

According to P Sujathan, a political observer, elevating ‘ethical problem’ has at all times been an LDF technique throughout elections. “Allegations of sex scandal can easily influence the voters. The CPM is well aware of the fact that Chandy is the most popular Congress leader in the state and he could change the equation among the Christian voters. Hence it is  adopting a strategy to demoralise him,” he mentioned.

Sujathan mentioned the CPM has adopted a defensive technique to counter the BJP and UDF’s assault pertaining to gold smuggling case and Swapna Suresh’s hyperlink with Speaker Sreeramakrishnan and others.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders identified that the CPM at all times needed to mission a ‘ethical problem’ throughout any election season, simply because the Left authorities strategically lodged an FIR in the identical case just a few days forward of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

“The LDF government which spent lakhs of rupees to avoid a CBI probe in the murder of Youth Congress leaders Kripesh and Sarath Lal at Kasaragod by moving Supreme Court is now going after the central agency,” mentioned Hibi Eden, MP.

“The main objective of CPM is to target the star campaigner of UDF. It would be interesting to watch how the Congress leaders are going to counter the move,” Sujathan mentioned.

Let CBI probe, will not take authorized steps: Ex-CM Oommen Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former chief minister Oommen Chandy mentioned he wouldn’t strategy the court docket looking for authorized motion in opposition to the LDF authorities. The authorities, which couldn’t do something even after 5 years of assuming workplace has now give you the brand new transfer, mentioned Chandy.

He termed the federal government’s transfer politically motivated. “Let CBI investigate. The Left front, which had unleashed major agitation over the solar issue in the state, could not do anything in the past five years,” Chandy instructed the media.

He identified that the High Court had severely criticised this case. “If there is investigation in a case in which I haven’t done anything wrong, I will face it,” he mentioned.

The former Chief Minister mentioned he is able to face any investigation. The authorities is attempting to cowl up its embarrassment, mentioned Chandy, including that the federal government resolution will backfire. “The people are witness to everything. You cannot dupe the masses,” he mentioned.

It’s a traditional process, says CPM’s A Vijayaraghavan 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM has termed it as a traditional process. Party secretary in-charge A Vijayaraghavan mentioned the federal government took the motion primarily based on the request by the complainant. “The government followed the legal course of action in the solar case. There was a probe commission and its report has also come out. The complainant demanded a CBI investigation. Naturally, the government took a favourable decision,” he identified. “It was to give natural justice to the complainant. There is no need to criticise the decision or portray it in a different manner.”