The solar energy controversy is adding fuel to the factional feud within the Congress Party, even as Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Sunday ruled out a reshuffle of the State Cabinet.
K. Muraleedharan, MLA, who is now with the so-called ‘I’ faction in the Congress, publicly attacked the role of the police in the solar scam investigation. He alleged that the police were trying to protect certain people involved in the scam. He specifically referred to two former employees in the Chief Minister’s office and wondered why they were not arrested, though an aide had been arrested.
The criticism of the police is viewed as an attack on Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishna whom a section of the party has been gunning for. Two middle-level party leaders also came out publicly supporting Muraleedharan’s stand. The ‘I’ faction had for some time been pressing the party leadership for a Cabinet reshuffle and wanted the KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala to be made Home Minister.
Meanwhile, A.K. Antony, answering media persons’ questions at Kochi on Sunday, said that a change of guard in the government and Cabinet reshuffle were not on the agenda of the party leadership. Antony was trying to send across the message to the Opposition, which had been pressing for the Chief Minister’s ouster, that the Central leadership stood by Chandy. He also wanted to let the rival faction in the party know that a Cabinet reshuffle was out of the question now.
Antony met Chandy in Kochi for a closed-door interaction, thus triggering speculation about the fallout of the solar scam. At a Youth Congress meeting here, the Home Minister was severely criticised for his handling of the police conduct in the solar scam.