Congress Divided Over CMRL-Exalogic Case as Chief Minister Faces Opposition

Thiruvananthapuram, October 16 (Daily Kiran) : The CMRL-Exalogic controversy is revealing significant divisions within the Congress party regarding its stance on the state government’s approach. Despite strong opposition from MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan defended the decision not to rush legal action against Pinarayi Vijayan.

During a recent Congress legislative party meeting, Kuzhalnadan questioned why Vijayan should receive justice that the LDF government denied former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. This sparked a debate among party members, with some calling for immediate legal action while others stressed the need for a more prudent legal and political strategy.

Sources indicate that Satheesan remarked in the meeting that Kuzhalnadan’s approach stemmed from youthful exuberance, arguing that it is politically unwise to act hastily in such matters. A lengthy discussion ensued, with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, and Power Minister Suni Joseph voicing their support for the Chief Minister.

The clash intensified when Kuzhalnadan openly criticized the government’s stance at a press conference. He contended that the government should reassess its position following a High Court division bench ruling and raised questions about the legal advice received by the administration.

Kuzhalnadan claimed he has largely fought the Exalogic case alone, enduring harassment, including a vigilance inquiry. He also wrote to the Home Minister expressing his discontent with the government’s attitude.

In response, Chennithala stated that discussions among senior leaders had already taken place and expressed surprise at Kuzhalnadan’s push for action. He suggested that had he been consulted, he would have advised against it.

Satheesan argued that taking hasty action based on any communication from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would be politically reckless. He pointed out that previous legal actions had only benefited Vijayan.

This internal conflict raises questions about Congress’s position, which had made the CMRL-Exalogic allegations a key issue during the April assembly elections. Before coming to power, the UDF frequently targeted the previous government over these allegations. The current situation has led to discontent among some factions within the party, prompting concerns that Congress may be retreating from one of its primary accusations against the former administration. Meanwhile, the issue could resurface as Vijayan has appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court’s directives.