A defeated Marxist siege had seemingly saved Kerala’s Chief Minister Oommen Chandy from the crisis of the infamous solar scam on August 13 but the man himself and the Government he is heading have once again been thrown into deep trouble, thanks to certain damning disclosures made by his one-time personal troubleshooter, Government Chief Whip PC George.
George, vice-chairman of the Kerala Congress (M), third biggest partner of the ruling UDF, has accused Chandy of being a person who cannot be trusted in any manner and of turning a blind eye towards the misuse of his own office in the State Secretariat by his former aides and the perpetrators of the infamous scam, including con woman Saritha S Nair.
George’s admissions, allegations and disclosures have once again plunged the UDF Government and the ruling coalition into chaos just when the CPI(M)-led Opposition lDF had mellowed its demand for the Chief Minister’s resignation over the solar scam, the perpetrators of which allegedly had his direct and indirect blessings.
The damning disclosures by George had the effect of a bolt on the Congress leaders, particularly those belonging to Chandy’s ‘A’ group. State Congress spokesman MM Hassan wanted George to be immediately sacked as Government Chief Whip while PT Thomas MP registered his protest against KC(M) chairman KM Mani’s refusal to straighten him up.
“I am not saying (that Chandy cannot be trusted at all). But it would be better if you take a little care while trusting him,” George told a television channel. He said that the Chief Minister had been lying about his ignorance of the misuse of his office by fraudsters as he had warned him of the goings-on well in advance and not after the arrest of Saritha S Nair on June 3 as he claimed.
Alleging that Chandy was in the habit of muddying the affairs of his own Government and the Congress for his advantage, George said that it was the Chief Minister himself who had sabotaged the proposal to induct State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala, his Enemy No 1 in the party, into his Cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister.
“I can’t say for sure why he is behaving like this. Perhaps it is because of the company he is keeping. Our ancestors are right in saying that you are judged by the company you keep,” George said, alleging frankly but indirectly that the friends and advisors around Chandy were people of suspicious character.
Observers say that the problem with George’s allegations is that the people of the State have no reason to disbelieve him as he was the best friend and personal troubleshooter of Chandy till some months ago. “George became Chandy’s foe once he began to speak discomforting truths about the solar scam. But still Chandy hasn’t spoken against him,” said a senior journalist.