The Congress high command on Saturday directed AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik to visit Kerala and take stock of the political situation in the State as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is embroiled in a major controversy after his personal staff were found involved in solar power scam.
Wasnik will visit the State on June 24 and convene a meeting of the party’s State executive and parliamentary party on June 25. He will also hold discussions with leaders of the Congress allies in the State, sources said.
The decision to send Wasnik, who has recently been given charge of Kerala, has been taken as the image of the Congress-led UDF Government in the State has been severely hit following the allegation of involvement of some members of Chandy’s personal staff in the scam.
State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala and AICC secretary VD Satheesan had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi separately and briefed her about the situation in the State. They had also held discussion with the Political Secretary of the Congress president Ahmad Patel, Defence Minister AK Antony and Wasnik about the issue.
Chandy had removed a personal assistant and a gun man from the Chief Minster’s Office a week back after they were found to have engaged in frequent telephonic conversations with Saritha Nair, an accused in the solar panel scam. But this has not deterred Opposition lDF which has unleashed a strong campaign demanding the Chief Minister’s resignation.