Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 24: Amid the escalating political controversy over the alleged Sabarimala gold theft, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is learnt to be deeply upset with the Kerala Congress leadership over the manner in which the issue was handled, especially after the name of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi figured in the political sparring.
According to party sources, Rahul Gandhi believes that sections of the state Congress leadership adopted a short-sighted approach in pursuing the issue, which allowed the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF to drag his mother’s name into the controversy and sharpen its counter-offensive.
The political slugfest intensified after photographs surfaced purportedly showing Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, along with Sonia Gandhi and Congress MPs Adoor Prakash and Anto Antony. The CPI(M) and the Kerala government seized on the images to allege links between the Congress leadership and the accused, a charge strongly dismissed by the Congress as a smear campaign.
Sources said Rahul felt that the Congress’s aggressive campaign strategy on the issue forced the Left to escalate the matter and turn it into a larger political confrontation. Insiders also said the party failed to offer a convincing explanation regarding the photograph, enabling the CPI(M) to weaponise it politically.
The Sabarimala gold loss cases relate to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and the sanctum sanctorum door frames at the Lord Ayyappa temple. A Special Investigation Team probing the case has arrested 12 persons, including Potty and two former presidents of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The issue dominated proceedings in the Kerala Assembly this week, triggering heated exchanges. During the debate, minister M B Rajesh, while referring to the photograph, made remarks that drew strong protests from the Congress. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan wrote to Speaker A N Shamseer seeking expunging of the comments, though Congress leaders privately admit the damage to the party has been significant.
The Congress’s use of a controversial song during protests linked to the alleged gold theft case also came under criticism, with party sources conceding that it further deepened animosity between the UDF and the LDF.
Meanwhile, UDF convenor and Congress MP Adoor Prakash admitted that he had met Potty on multiple occasions but denied any connection to the gold theft case. The alleged gold heist was a major campaign plank of the UDF during the recent panchayat elections, after the issue was first raised in the Assembly by Satheesan.