Congress leaders in Kerala directed to stop airing grievances publicly

Kannur, Oct 19 (IANS) Congress' Kerala unit President Sunny Joseph on Monday warned party leaders against airing their differences in public, as disagreements over the V.D. Satheesan government's handling of the CMRL-Exalogic case add to the strains within the ruling Congress. 

"Congress leaders should not make public statements that create headaches for the party. They can express their views on party platforms," Joseph, who is also the state Power Minister, told the media in Kannur, adding that the warning applied to everyone.

He said he was compelled to speak publicly because some leaders had crossed the limits and urged them to avoid controversial remarks.

The warning comes amid a familiar problem for the faction-ridden Congress in Kerala, where internal disagreements have repeatedly spilled into the public domain, often becoming more pronounced when the party is in power.

The latest round of differences has exposed competing views within the leadership over how the government should proceed in the politically sensitive CMRL-Exalogic case.

The case concerns alleged payments by Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to Exalogic, the now-defunct IT firm owned by T. Veena, daughter of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have initiated separate proceedings.

Vijayan has been named the first accused in the CMRL-Exalogic case, with Veena also named as the second accused.

The allegations have been denied by those concerned.

Chief Minister Satheesan's approach to the case has drawn criticism from Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, who has pressed for action against Vijayan.

The government's insistence that it would follow the legal process has become a source of friction within the party, with leaders differing over the pace and manner of action.

The discontent is not confined to this case alone.

Senior Congress MP and UDF convenor Adoor Prakash recently accused Satheesan of taking important decisions without consulting him, saying he had been left in the dark.

He subsequently raised the issue with the Congress high command.

On the CMRL issue, Joseph defended the government's position, describing its decisions as practical and mature.

He said the government had not acted with the intention of killing the case and argued that the CPI-M had been caught in a predicament over its stand.

The challenge for the Congress leadership is now to prevent internal differences from overshadowing the government's agenda and the party's own demand for accountability in the case.

--IANS

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