Sooraj is known for his close ties with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which calls the shots in the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the State. And it is also evident that the IUML is not exactly happy about the raids against its favourite bureaucrat. The IUML has also refused to buy the theory that the Vigilance raid was conducted without the

There is another theory doing the rounds about the ‘politics’ behind the raids against Sooraj. This school of thought would have the people believe that it is part of a well-orchestrated move by the Congress, the ‘big brother’, to cut the IUML, which has been a thorn in the Congress flesh right from the beginning, to size. Although the IUML is saying, for the record, that it is not trying to shield Sooraj, the party’s discomfiture over the trouble which Sooraj is facing following the raids is visible.

The IUML, simply cannot wash its hands of the affair, allege detractors of the IUML. In fact, both the CPI and the CPI(M) are on record that the IUML is doing its very best to protect the IAS officer, who is feeling the heat, post raids. The prevailing perception is that a senior bureaucrat simply cannot indulge in the kind of corruption and amassing of wealth which Sooraj has allegedly done without the help and green signal from the higher-ups. Incidentally, the PWD Minister, Ibrahim Kunju belongs to the IUML.

A closer look at the ‘politics’ behind the Vigilance raids is also in order against the backdrop of the relentless pressure the Congress is being subjected to to by the allies to further their separate agendas. That the Congress is at the receiving end because of the politics of brinkmanship being resorted to by both the IUML and the Kerala Congress(M) is an open secret. The latest Vigilance raids are, so goes the spin, part of the Congress effort to tame the aggressive allies.

It may be mentioned that the Congress has successfully managed to frustrate KC(M) Chief K M Mani’s long-standing ambition of becoming Chief Minister in the wake of the Bar Owners Association(BOA) office-bearer’s allegation that Mani had demanded a bribe of Rs 5 crore to secure a favourable order for the BOA in a case against the closure of a large number of bars in the state.

A section within the KC(M) suspects the Congress hand – that of the group led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy -behind the BOA’s campaign against Mani. KC(M) leaders close to Mani think Chandy is seeking to fell two mangoes with a single stone: to silence the growing criticism of the Congress by the KC(M) and frustrate Mani’s attempts to become the CM and protect his gaddi.

Whatever the truth, the Congress is a much relieved party now with Mani publicly disavowing any intention or move to become Chief Minister! The grapevine has it that Mani is against provoking the Bar Owners, who have threatened to come out with more damaging evidence of bribe-taking if an inquiry by a credible agency is ordered into the sordid episode. The BOA has refused to give ‘clinching’ evidence to the Vigilance department, which is conducting a preliminary investigation, because it feels the vigilance probe is nothing but a farce to bail out Mani.

Having succeeded in silencing the KC(M), the Congress, say both the friends and foes of the IUML, is bent upon ‘disciplining’ the most aggressive ally, which has made life difficult for the Congress. The raids against Sooraj, it is being pointed out, are just a warning to the IUML to behave; or else the harassment could be extended to those who protect the bureaucrat – in this case the IUML. (IPA Service)