Raiding the Congress
Kochi: The series of raids by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) following cases against veteran Congress leader and former minister K Babu provided a bit of a shock to the political circles in Kerala as it was a deviation from the normal practice of letting off the political rivals with allegations of corruption.
Observers feel that the Vigilance director Jacob Thomas, messiah of the anti-corruption brigade, has prepared the noose for a number of Congress leaders. In a clear indication of his intent, VACB is also trying to connect the dots by naming the so-called ‘benami’.
“The cases are being registered based on frivolous complaints. It’s nothing but political vendetta,” said former Chief Minister and Congress leader Oommen Chandy in Thiruvanthapuram.
According to political analysts, the CPI(M) is targeting the ‘A’ group led by Oommen Chandy, not the entire party.
“Oommen Chandy is the only Congress leader in the state after K Karunakaran who can claim at least 10 followers in each booth. ‘A’ group is much stronger than the other prominent group ‘I’ in the organisational level. Hence, the CPI(M) is targeting to weaken them,” said Dijo Kappen, a political analyst.
Meanwhile, dissent is brewing within the party against the silence of KPCC president V M Sudheeran on the issue. While leaders from the ‘A’ faction demand a meeting of the high power committee to be convened at an urgent manner to discuss the case against Babu, those who are close to Sudheeran see no urgency.
“The committee will be meeting on September 24 and we will see what can be done with regard to the issue,” said T N Prathapan, a member of the high power committee.
Checking the RSS
Kochi: Aimed at shrinking the growth of the Sangh Parivar in Kerala, which has the maximum number of RSS shakhas (nearly 5,000), the state government has made it public that the order to ban physical training and learning sessions in temples is just a signature away from the chief minister.
“Undoubtedly, the RSS is the strength of the BJP in the state and signs are clear that they are giving a tough fight to the Congress as the main Opposition party. By checking the activities of RSS in temples, where their work is more or less confined to, the CPI(M) is making a strong point to contain the growth of the BJP,” said Dijo Kappen, a political analyst.
However, the belligerent RSS-BJP leaders are not taking it seriously. “During the Emergency, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had tried to ban activities of the RSS, which did not work. The same will be the result of the CPI(M)’s plan to weaken Sangh activities in the state,” said BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan and a former RSS pracharak.