Even as 'solar heat' fails to decline, Chandy not to turn vindictive (Kerala Newsletter)

Even as the Left opposition is breathing fire on Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the "solar scam" case, he has ruled out targeting his detractors.

Chandy said there is no question of his turning vindictive as the scam started way back when the CPI-M ruled the state (2006-11).

"If they had done a clean job then, which they did not do and even took a very lenient stand by only making out civil cases against the now arrested couple, all this would not have happened," Chandy told IANS.

Chandy's personal assistant is behind bars and two others have been booted out for their involvement with the perpetrators of the scam - a con-couple now cooling their heels in jail.

On Thursday, for the first time, the Congress alleged that the con couple was let off because of the stand taken by Bineesh Kodiyeri, the son of then powerful home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan of the CPI-M.

"There will be no retaliatory measures taken by us to tame them using this. I believe in the law taking its course and there will be nothing done on my part to take a vindictive stand," emphasised Chandy who is known for playing politics with a straight bat.

Meanwhile, Bineesh Kodiyeri, reacting to the Congress' allegations, said it wasn't fair to target the families of politicians, be they from any party.

"I have started steps to take legal action against the allegations levelled by (Congress spokesperson M.M) Hassan," Bineesh said.

With the Left opposition up in arms and demanding Chandy's resignation, he continues to remain calm.

He is, however, reaching Delhi over the weekend to brief the national leadership of the situation after the state party presented a report stating that the image of the government has taken a beating.

On Thursday, Defence Minister A.K. Antony was called in by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to assess the situation and if reports are to be believed, a shakeup of the Chandy cabinet that has been on the cards for some time is expected to be given the nod.

Now, what remains to be seen is if state party president Ramesh Chennithala joins Chandy at this eleventh hour to give his government a new face.

(Sanu George can be contacted at sanu.g@ians.in)