The distinct unease of both the leaders is due to the significant victory scored by KPCC president, V. M. Sudheeran on the issue of corruption in the Consumerfed, led by a Chennithala loyalist. Sudheeran had rattled Chennithala by demanding the removal of Joy Thomas, chairman of the Consumerfed and a Chennithala loyalist, from the post following the leveling of corruption charges against him by a host of Congress leaders besides the leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan.

Sudheeran’s demand was taken up by Congress MLA, T N Prathapan, who wrote letters to the CM and the Home Minister, seeking a comprehensive CBO probe into the corruption issue although he welcomed the constitution of a vigilance probe ordered by Chennithala. An inquiry by the Vigilance would not, however, serve the purpose, Prathapan said, adding that since inter-state deals had taken place, only a CBI inquiry would get at the real culprits. Two other Congress leaders, KPCC general secretary, K. P. Anil Kumar and Satheeshan Pacheni also joined wanted a CBI probe to clear the air.

Significantly, all these leaders are close to the KPCC president. And that is exactly what is worrying the Chandy and Chennithala groups. Such is their disquiet over the growing support for Sudheeran on the issue that they have decided to approach the Congress High Command with a complaint against him. The stand taken by Sudheeran and his sujpporters on the eve of the local bodies elections will have an adverse impact on the party’s prospects, the A and I group leaders contend.

Prathapan’s letters are being interpreted as lack of confidence in the Home Minister, who, it is alleged, has ordered the vigilance probe to shield his loyalist Joy Thomas. A probe undertaken by the Vigilance department, under the firm control of Chennithala, would be nothing but a farce, believe supporters of Sudheeran. And hence their demand for a CBI inquiry.

The A and I group leaders, who have joined hands in the face of an attack by their ‘common enemy’, allege that Sudheeran has hit them at their weak spot by highlighting the corruption in the Consumerfed. This was a retaliatory move initiated by the KPCC president for the stiff opposition both the A and I groups have put up against the KPCC chief’s move for immediate reconstitution of the party organization in the state.

Be that as it may, it must be admitted that Sudheeran has succeeded in denting the confidence of Chandy and Chennithala. And, it is an encouraging sign that more and more Congress leaders are coming out in the open against the dominance of the A and I groups. This is exactly what Sudheeran had set out to do ever since he became the KPCC president with the approval of the High Command.
A complaint to the Congress high command is unlikely to yield the desired results as both Chandy and Chennithala no longer enjoy the high command’s confidence. And Sudheeran is the personal choice of both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president, Rahul Gandhi.

It may be mentioned that an earlier complaint had failed to move the high command into ‘disciplining’ the KPCC president. Chandy and Chennithala had hoped that Sudheeran would be ordered to change his style of functioning. Nothing of the sort has happened. To the chagrin of Chandy and Chennithala, the high command has simply refused to ask Sudheeran to postpone the party revamp in the state.

The immediate upshot of the latest developments will be tough bargaining over the selection of candidates for the local bodies elections.

All said and done, Sudheeran has successfully managed to hijack the anti-corruption platform, to the chagrin of Chandy and Chennithala. That Chennithala’s decision to constitute a vigilance inquiry has failed to convince Congress leaders themselves, is a telling commentary on the credibility of the Home Minister and the probe ordered by him. It can be said with certainty that this round has gone to Sudheeran, who has shaken his rivals with a decisive campaign against corruption. And the party’s rank and file seems to be fully with the KPCC president on the issue of combating corruption. (IPA Service)