The Congress had managed to put the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government on the defensive by launching a solid campaign on the lottery controversy rocking the State. The party has accused the CPI(M) of having links with the lottery mafia. In fact, the party had made what calls the lottery scam its major election plank.

But Singhvi, who is also an eminent lawyer, sprang an unpleasant surprise on the State Congress by appearing for lottery king, Santiago Martin, in the Kerala High Court! It was political blunder of the first order, which could nullify all the good work done by the State Congress and exact a heavy electoral price from it.

What compounds Singhvi's offence is the fact that he brushed aside the requests of Congress leaders in the State not to appear in the controversial case. This knocks the stuffing out of Singhvi's claim that he was blissfully unaware of the lottery controversy raging in Kerala.

Incidentally, Kerala Pradesh Congress President Ramesh Chennithala and another Congress MP from Kerala were on the same plane which took Singhvi to Kochi. The MP told a TV channel that he had overheard a conversation between Singhvi and a judge from the state and come to know that Singhvi was on his way to Kochi to appear on behalf of the Lottery king, Santiago Martin. He reportedly cautioned Singhvi against taking up the controversial brief, which is against the interests of the Congress in the State. But Singhvi chose to ignore his pleadings, it is learnt.

Angered by the shocking conduct of Singhvi, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition, Oommen Chandy lodged a strong protest with the party high command, demanding action against him, who had spoiled the party's campaign against the LDF government. The high command acted fast by temporarily removing Singhvi from the post of party spokesman pending completion of the investigation by the disciplinary committee headed by senior Congress leader from Kerala and Defence Minister A K Antony.

But the damage has already been done. The incident cannot but have an adverse impact on the Congress's prospects in the local body elections. The controversy, a self-goal, to use a football expression, has erupted at a time when the Congress-led UDF was sitting pretty and enjoying a headstart in the campaign for the local body elections.

Understandably, the CPI(M)-led ruling LDF is delighted at the unexpected political 'bumper' that has come its way, to put it in lottery parlance. The party has lost no time in twisting the knife into the Congress wound. The development has also lent further credence to the CPI(M)'s charge that Congress has all along been having links with the Lottery mafia, an allegation which the Congress itself has been leveling against the CPI(M) with some effect. (IPA)