Thiruvananthapuram: Discontent is growing within Congress over UDF govt’s stand in the controversial CMRL-Exalogic case, with Karunagappally MLA C R Mahesh joining the criticism through a cryptic Facebook post.Mahesh shared a scene from the Malayalam film ‘Godfather’, featuring N N Pillai’s character Anjooran angrily responding to a suggestion that the past be forgotten. “Forget? Should I forget everything that happened in the past? What all should I forget?” the character asks.“Let this remain here for the time being. More later,” Mahesh wrote. Several comments beneath the post referred to former chief minister Oommen Chandy, suggesting that Mahesh was indirectly reminding the Congress leadership of the previous LDF govt’s actions against UDF leaders, especially Chandy, in the solar case.The post comes amid criticism of govt’s legal stand in the monthly payoff case. Following findings by central agencies, including ED and SFIO, a high court single bench directed vigilance to register an FIR and investigate the allegations.However, govt maintained that there was insufficient evidence to register an FIR immediately and that a preliminary inquiry was necessary. This has prompted allegations within Congress that govt is adopting a soft approach in a case involving former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan and former minister P A Mohammed Riyas.Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan raised objections at a recent Congress parliamentary party meeting. KPCC spokesperson Jinto John also publicly criticised govt’s stand, while MLA Chandy Oommen supported Kuzhalnadan.Some Congress leaders argued that UDF should remember how the previous LDF govt treated opposition leaders, including Oommen Chandy and former minister V K Ibrahim Kunju.Those defending govt, however, maintained that the legal implications must be examined before initiating criminal proceedings.Mahesh’s post has further exposed divisions within Congress over the handling of the case.
