The Congress is sharply divided over backing Mani with Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, V. M. Sudheeran and Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy not on the same page on the issue. Though the KPCC chief has not openly voiced his opinion, his latest remark makes it amply clear that he is not happy with the CM’s supportive attitude. Propriety demands that he refrain from making any statement as the Congress and the UDF are in the thick of the local bodies elections, Sudheeran said, adding that he would express his views at the appropriate time. In other words, it would be ceasefire till the local bodies election results are out.

But it is an open secret that Sudheeran is of the firm view that K Mani has become a liability and continued support to him would seriously affect the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s prospects of retaining power after the crucial assembly elections next year.

That being the stark reality, it is evident that the meeting of the KPCC office-bearers on November 11 and that of the KPCC executive on November 12 would witness fireworks. The meeting will discuss the situation arising out of the Thiruvananthapuram vigilance court judge’s verdict against Mani. There are indications that more Congress leaders would voice their criticism against Mani at the meetings. And if the election results go against the UDF, the demand for Mani’s resignation would acquire a sharper edge.

It is significant to note that no other Congress leader except the Chief Minister has openly expressed their support to Mani. Chandy, Sudheeran said, has his own compulsions being the CM to back Mani for administrative reasons. But the party is not under any such compulsion to support a person who has become a millstone round the UDF’s neck. On the issue, Sudheeran is not alone. The demand for Mani’s resignation is gathering momentum cutting across group loyalties in the Congress.

It is not as if Mani is under increasing pressure from the Congress party alone. Trouble is brewing for the Finance Minister within his own party, too. Former KC(M) MLA, and KC(M) general secretary, P.C. Joseph, a known Mani detractor, has fired the first salvo by demanding a meeting of the party’s high-power committee to discuss the ‘serious situation’ arising out of the court verdict. George’s is not the only voice against Mani. Other leaders are waiting for the elections results to be out. Once the results are announced, knives are likely to be out, it is being pointed out by sources close to the P J Joseph faction in the KC(M). Such is the pressure that Joseph himself is on record that the high power committee will meet soon after the declaration of the poll results. There are clear indications that the Joseph faction will also demand Mani’s resignation once the charge-sheet is filed in the bar bribery case.

Meanwhile, Mani suffered a second setback within a week on the legal front. The Kerala High Court has said that the Vigilance Director had gone against the Vigilance manual while preparing the final report in the bar bribery case involving Mani.

While hearing a petition filed by the Vigilance Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) against the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court directive for a further probe in the case against Mani, Justice Kemal Pasha has observed that if the director had stuck to the procedure in the vigilance manual there would have been no complaints. The Manual, the judge said, clearly states that in cases personally investigated by the superintendent or other senior police officer, the factual report had to be readied by them. The director had no powers to alter the report to make it a favourable one for the accused, in this case, Mani. In other words, the UDF Government’s efforts to secure a stay on the order of the vigilance judge have failed.

The court asked a pertinent question in this context: Why was the money taken by a bar owners association member to Mani’s house. The implication was that the fact that money was taken to the FM’s house is itself circumstantial evidence against Mani in the case.

In his order, the vigilance judge has said that there is need for further investigation in the bar bribery case. What has hurt Mani the most is the scathing observation made by the judge that there is circumstantial evidence to prove that Mani has accepted bribes amounting to Rs 25 lakh from bar owners for taking a decision to reopen the closed bars in the state.

Judge John Illikadan had remarked that the Director can ask the IO to further investigate the case. But he had no powers to reverse the opinion and the conclusions of the IO that there is a prima facie case for prosecuting the accused. The judge had accused the Vigilance director of pressuring the IO to change the report to suit the opinion of the former.

Reports have it that Mani, under greater pressure after the two judgments, will have to shed at least the Law portfolio to silence his detractors. But Mani is said to be firmly opposed to such suggestions.

On its part, a jubilant Left Democratic Front has decided to up the ante by deciding to launch an aggressive agitation demanding Mani’s resignation. Things could reach the boiling point once the election results are out. Coming days will generate much heat on the issue, and cause an escalation in political tensions. (IPA Service)