The new tape has Unni saying that the BOA is expecting a favourable order from the court; and, should the government appeal against it, he would reveal the names of the Congress ministers!

The latest disclosures in an audio tape released by BOA working president, Biju Ramesh, have promptly pushed the Congress on to the back foot politically. The stunned Congress leadership is taking refuge behind the plea that the ministers have not been named, and the disclosure is only part of the ‘fabricated’ tapes detailing the so-called proceedings of the meeting of the Bar owners.

The latest revelations have come as a ‘big relief’ for beleaguered KM Mani, who has, so far, borne the brunt of the attacks in connection with the bar bribery scam all alone. The KC(M) leaders, who have all along suspected the hand of a section of Congress leaders belonging to the A group headed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, behind the conspiracy to malign their leader Mani, are ‘happy’ that the Congress ministers also find themselves in the eye of the storm now. In the changed situation, the Congress leaders, who have privately gloated over the misfortune of Mani while publicly clucking sympathy for him, will have a lot of explaining to do in the light of the release of the latest audio tape by Biju Ramesh.

Earlier, Mani’s attempt to put up a brave face and brazen it out came a cropper with Biju promptly handing over to the Vigilance tapes containing a telephonic conversation allegedly made by Mani’s son, Jose K. Mani to strike a deal in the bar bribery case! Reports have it that the Vigilance is likely to interrogate Jose in the light of fresh evidence.

As if all this was not enough, the UDF landed itself in fresh trouble with Kerala Congress(B) chief R. Balakrishna Pillai choosing to ignore the CM’s plea for restraint. Pillai said at a press conference that those who wronged him must first make amends. He also ruled out leaving the UDF on his own. ‘They can expel me if they want,” thundered a defiant Pillai who kept his option to criticize the UDF government in future as well. “I won’t give up my battle against corruption,” averred Pillai.

Expectations were that the UDF high-power committee meeting would take action against Pillai for speaking against Mani in a telephonic talk with BOA working president Biju Ramesh. In the conversation, Pillai is heard asking Biju to demand a CBI probe against Mani and stick to the tough line he has taken in the matter! But it is clear that the UDF leaders have shied away from drastic action, developing cold feet. They know that, if expelled, Pillai could ‘explode’ ‘many bombs’ in his possession, causing the collapse of the UDF Government. Hence their refrain that Pillai can leave if he wants but they won’t expel him as of now! Another reason why they have stayed their hands is that Pillai may cross over to the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) if he is expelled from the UDF.

Meanwhile, the tension over the bar bribery scam has had its effect on the KC(M) also, exposing serious differences between its leaders. The high-power committee meeting of the party, held the other day, saw a prominent Mani detractor, T. S. John, opining that Mani should have resigned immediately after the scam broke out. That would have averted the tarnishing of the party’s image, John said. The meeting also witnessed an angry exchange between Mani and KC(M) vice-chairman P. C. George, who is suspected by a section of the KC(M) of being part of the conspiracy against Mani although outwardly he professes full loyalty to the KC(M) chief. Significantly, the PJ Joseph group leaders maintained a silence during the exchanges. Speculation is rife that, should the KC(M) split, the Joseph group may cross over to the LDF. (IPA Service)