The initiation of a probe into the corruption charges leveled against Kerala’s Marxist Minister J Mercykutty Amma in less than three months since the resignation of another Marxist Minister over nepotism charges has triggered discussions on whether the CPI(M)-led lDF Government is pursuing the same path set by the former Congress-led UDF regime as far as corruption is concerned.
Mercykutty Amma, Fisheries and Cashew Industry Minister and a member of the CPI(M)’s State committee, is facing a quick verification by the Vigilance for her alleged involvement in a Rs 10.34-crore corruption scandal related to the import of raw cashew nut. The probe against her was ordered by Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas the other day.
The graft charge against Mercykutty Amma and the probe into it have turned out to be a huge embarrassment for the seven-month-old lDF Government which had suffered its first major jolt since assuming office last May in the form of nepotism charge against CPI(M) central committee member EP Jayarajan which led to his resignation as Industries minister on October 14.
That the Vigilance probe against Mercykutty Amma has come just a week after a court in Thodupuzha had dismissed the discharge petition of CPI(M)’s Idukki strongman and Power Minister MM Mani in a 34-year-old case pertaining to the murder of a young Congress leader is making matters further worse for the Marxist party and the lDF Government.
Though the Opposition has not made a direct demand for the resignation of Mercykutty Amma so far, even top leaders of the lDF are privately admitting that she will have to step down if the Vigilance probe finds any substance in the allegation because the left had been quick to raise demand for resignation whenever a minister in the former government was accused of graft.
“The UDF was voted out mainly due to alleged corruption. One minister had resigned, another had put in his papers and some others had reached the verge of resigning. The lDF seems to be going the same way and a talk is already on in the analysts’ circles that the lDF and the UDF are two sides of the same coin in this regard,” said a former CPI(M) State committee member.
The initiation of probe against her has not prompted Mercykutty Amma to express readiness to resign as Jayarajan had done after he was accused of making nepotistic appointments in the Government sector though she had announced that she would resign if the charge was proved correct when it was raised in the Assembly in October by Congress legislator VD Satheesan.
Apart from Mercykutty Amma, her husband B Thulaseedhara Kurup, a former director board member of the Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Cooperative Society, and Xavier, managing director of the Cashew Development Corporation, also are facing quick verification by the Vigilance, which has been asked by a court to submit its report by February 17.
The Marxist Minister is accused of facilitating the import of several metric tons of raw cashew nuts through companies that had quoted higher prices during the last Onam season leading to a loss of Rs 10.34 crore to the Exchequer. It has also been alleged that the decision for import was taken at a specially held meeting in the Minister’s chamber.
Sources close to the Minister are confident that there is no truth in the charge but several top CPI(M) leaders are worried that it would be a huge blow for the party as well as the Government if the probe leads to a situation where the Vigilance registers a proper FIR against her. “That would be a fatal blow,” said a top CPM leader from Kollam, the Minister’s home district.
Observers are of the opinion that the CXPI(M)’s official leadership has no other option but to defend the Minister in the present context despite the fact that she used to be a staunch supporter of former chief minister VS Achuthanandan at the peak of divisionism in the party. “But everything will depend on what the Vigilance finds out,” senior journalist PVS Warrier said.