The Government was plunged into a crisis when working president of the Bar Owners’ Association, Biju Ramesh, made the shocking revelation that Mani demanded a bribe of Rs five crore to ensure a decision favouring them in the court case over the controversial liquor policy which seeks to enforce prohibition in the state over the next ten years. Ramesh, who dropped the bombshell during a TV channel debate, said an amount of Rs one crore was handed over to the FM at his Pala residence in Kottayam district.

The ‘thunderbolt’ threw the UDF Government into a tizzy, with the ruling front’s constituents struggling to defend the allegation. True, various UDF leaders including chief minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran have rushed to the defence of the beleaguered Finance Minister, but the defence has been far from convincing.

Whatever the spin the UDF leaders are putting on the controversy, the prevailing perception is that it was a calculated conspiracy to prevent Mani’s crossing over to the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF), speculation about which has been rife for some time now. The KC(M) leaders see the hand of ‘A’ group leaders behind the conspiracy, with KC(M) leader and government chief whip, P. C. George even going to the extent of accusing Chief Minister Oommen Chandy of being behind the conspiracy to tarnish Mani’s image. Significantly, CPI(M) state secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan had also opined that the chief minister was the direct beneficiary of the bribery allegation against Mani. The uncharitable construction is this: with one stone, Chandy has achieved the twin objective of preventing Mani’s cross-over to the LDF and averted the threat to his chief ministerial gaddi.

Whatever the final denouement, relations between the Congress and the KC(M) will never be the same. For the time being, the KC(M) has grudgingly accepted the Congress’s contention that it has nothing to do with the bribery allegation, and that the party fully supported Mani in his hour of crisis. But the sordid episode has left a trail of bitterness which will take a long time to evaporate.

Equally noteworthy has been the response of the LDF in general and the CPI(M) in particular to the political hurricane. One should have thought that the CPI(M) would grasp the golden opportunity to go for the kill against the UDF Government in a united manner. Nothing of the sort has happened. The CPI(M)’s response has badly exposed the party’s fault lines once again, exposing it to public ridicule. While leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan has sought a CBI inquiry into the affair, the official wing led by Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded a probe by a special investigation team monitored by the court. VS is persisting in his CBI probe demand. In fact, the CPI(M) veteran is planning to lodge a complaint with the central leadership against Vijayan and his loyalists.

No less significant is the rejection by Vijayan of VS’s other demand for the return to the LDF of RSP and Socialist Janata (Democratic), which had left the front and joined the UDF years ago. VS is of the view that the return of the two parties is essential for the expansion of the Left Democratic Front. But Vijayan has set his face firmly against their re-entry into the LDF.

Interestingly, Vijayan betrayed his soft corner for KC(M) chief Mani by refusing to openly rule out his entry into the LDF, while VS is vehemently opposed to Mani’s entry into the LDF. VS has the full support of the CPI in his stand. As a matter of fact, CPI state secretary, Pannyan Ravindran has said there is no question of Mani joining the LDF, and that the CPI would oppose it tooth and nail.

The crisis plaguing the UDF is likely to deepen with the Bar Owners Association threatening more revelations against Mani soon. Coming days will be crucial for the UDF. If the Bar Owners Association leaders come out with more damaging evidence against Mani, the UDF will sink deeper into the mire. (IPA)