His ready smile is ever present, which occasionally shifts to a gentle laugh especially when the cameras are on him. Not that often now. The ignominy of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, with the uncombed hair and deliberate simplicity, portrayed as Kerala's Mr Clean was complete after he was questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the Solar scam.
The Kerala Chief Minister, in his early 70s, shows unbeatable energy in fighting unfavourable circumstances within the party as well as in dealing with the threats posed by the allies. The lone MLA of Kerala Congress (B) K B Ganesh Kumar is the fresh challenge for Chandy. Ganesh Kumar, who had resigned following complaints of domestic violence, is now threatening to resign his legislatorship if he is not reinducted into the Cabinet. Every support counts as the UDF is surviving on wafer thin majority with just 73 legislators in the 140 member Assembly.
Chandy who represents the ‘A’ faction in the state unit of the Congress never loses his charm even when his rivals attack him.
An ‘apostle’ of political ethics, Chandy assumed power with a clean image, which has now been a bit tainted with the Solar scam in which some of his former aides misappropriated crores of rupees without his ‘knowledge’.
Chandy finds the strength to continue from the ‘I’ faction’s (his rival group) lack of political will.
“Chandy knows that the ‘I’ group could not take the game against him in a rigorous manner,” said a prominent leader of the ‘I’ group who preferred anonymity. Chandy is also aware that it is the need for everyone in power to ensure the stability of the government. “Chandy is a political manipulator. He never tackles issues but leave them as such. Same is the case with UDF. UDF meetings held after the Chandy government came to power have not taken any political decisions but only postponed them,” said political critique Jayasankar. Chandy also finds solace in the Left Democratic Front’s neutral stand.
Scandalman’s Pressure
The lone MLA of Kerala Congress (B), a minor constituent of the UDF, K B Ganesh Kumar is angry with Oommen Chandy for having been fired from the Cabinet after a sex scandal and complaints of domestic violence embarrassed the government. He is the son of former minister P Balakrishna Pillai who was sacked and jailed for his alleged involvement in a power scam. Ganesh, emboldened by Chandy’s perceived weakness in the Solar Scam is now threatening to resign his legislatorship if he is not taken back in the Cabinet.
Pillai, who has been only fed some minor scarps after his release from jail is firm on his son’s reinduction. Biju Radhakrishnan, live-in partner of scam accused Saritha S Nair, revealed that he had sought Chandy’s help to talk Ganesh Kumar out of an alleged relationship between Ganesh and Saritha. Ganesh and his father share a bitter relationship, but have reunited only to get back the single Cabinet birth for the party.
Seeking Son’s Coronation
Kerala Congress (M) chief K M Mani rarely makes public comments these days. He waits for the right moment. Mani has not given up his demand for the induction of his son Jose K Mani into the Union Cabinet. He is taking maximum advantage of the present situation to increase pressure on Chandy. Mani’s ambition does not end with a Union Cabinet post for his son— like the IUML he is also aiming for an additional seat in the Lok Sabha election. Meanwhile, his partymen believe that he ‘deserves’ at least the deputy CM’s post. The LDF had sought to wean Mani away in an effort to topple the UDF government and form its own government in the state, but he decided to wait and watch, which saved Chandy’s government for the time being.
St George the Dragon
Government chief whip P C George, a self assumed ‘crusader’ whose speciality is attacking Chandy has blamed the chief minister at the recent Liaison Committee meeting of the UDF for losing control over his ministers. “How can he be eligible for the post when he has no authority,” questioned George. He also quizzed the government’s stance on the State Data Centre case, in which it is alleged that the state data centre was handed over to Reliance Communications at a higher cost, turning down a lower bid quoted by two other companies during the tenure of the LDF government. Chandy kept silent even when George attacked Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan for all the ills in the government and the coalition. Like many others Chandy also fears the whip because George always has ‘revelations’ against leaders.
The Man in the Wings
Chennithala the patron of the ‘broad I’ group is a potential threat to Chandy as the latter’s biggest ambition is the plum post in Thiruvanathapuram. He is apparently calm. But his silence cannot be viewed as weakness. Chennithala, who felt insulted when he was denied the Cabinet berth twice after making the ‘offer’ public is waiting to retaliate at the appropriate time. Chennithala is not a leader like Chandy or the former chief minister K Karunakaran who have the charisma to inspire followers. As a political veteran, he could make the situation unfavourable for Chandy by polarising the allies as well as that of the party against Chandy, using the Solar scam. Chennithala would not wait until the Lok Sabha election to pounce, which would make things difficult for Chandy.
IUML the Proxy Ruler
Many political sections in UDF believe that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) holds the proxy chief ministership. IUML is upping the pressure on their demand for a third seat in the coming Lok Sabha elections. What is upsetting for Chandy is that the IUML has shown a deliberate fondness for his bete noire Ramesh Chennithala, Chandy, for the post of CM. Interestingly, the IUML further rattled Chandy by making its interest known for the same job. At a recent public function, Chennithala shared the dais with IUML leaders. He rushed to Kozhikode only to take part in the event, organised by the minority party, despite his hectic schedule. Earlier, Kunhalikutty used to stay away from attacking Chandy for he ‘feared’ the CM would resurrect the ice cream parlour case. Now he is hoisting the CM on his own petard—the Solar scam.