Congress Leaders in Kerala Advised Against Publicly Voicing Disputes

Kannur, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : Congress leaders in Kerala have received a stern warning from the party’s state president, Sunny Joseph, regarding the public expression of internal disagreements. Speaking to the media in Kannur on Monday, Joseph emphasized that leaders should avoid making statements that could complicate the party’s position, particularly in light of ongoing tensions surrounding the CMRL-Exalogic case.

Joseph, who also serves as the state’s energy minister, stated that party members are welcome to express their views on internal platforms but should refrain from public declarations that could undermine the party’s unity. He expressed that he felt compelled to issue this warning due to some leaders crossing the line and urged them to steer clear of controversial remarks.

This caution comes amid a familiar issue for the factionalized Congress party in Kerala, where internal disputes have frequently surfaced in public discussions. The latest round of disagreements highlights conflicting opinions within the leadership on how to address the politically sensitive CMRL-Exalogic matter.

The controversy involves alleged payments made by Kochi Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to Exalogic, a now-defunct IT company owned by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena. Both the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have initiated separate investigations into the matter.

In this case, Vijayan has been named the primary accused, while Veena is the second accused. The parties involved have denied the allegations. Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan has criticized Chief Minister Satyasheelan’s handling of the situation, calling for action against Vijayan.

The government’s insistence on following legal procedures has created further divisions within the party, as leaders hold differing views on the pace and manner of actions to be taken. This dissatisfaction is not limited to the CMRL case alone.

Recently, senior Congress MP and UDF convenor, Adur Prakash, accused Satyasheelan of making significant decisions without consulting him, claiming he was kept in the dark. He subsequently raised the issue with the Congress high command.

In defense of the government’s approach to the CMRL case, Joseph described its decisions as practical and mature, asserting that there was no intention to suppress the matter and suggesting that the CPI-M is caught in a dilemma regarding its stance.

The challenge for Congress leadership now is to ensure that internal disputes do not overshadow the party’s agenda or its demand for accountability in this case.