Liquor Mafia Damages Image of Congress Government in Kerala

-DR. ABDUL RUFF COLACHAL

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The Congress party led UDF government of Oommen Chandy is badly affected by the liquor controversy as the cabinet went back on its much publicized liquor ban policy within days of its announcement.  The liquor policy revision took place as liquor mafia came out with details of bribery the UDF ministers are involved in.

It seems the Oommen Chandy government is not bothered about the  weakening image of his government as, perhaps,  it thinks it can still win  the next  assembly poll  with help from the liquor and other mafias. Also, the Left parties like CPM could divert some of its votes in certain constituencies to the Congress party candidates to ensure the Congress success in the poll. Congress party perhaps calculates the common agenda of Congress-Left parties of keeping the BJP and other right wing Hindutva f parties out of assembly.

Assumptions do not do not always come true and eventually the Congress party would be the loser in Kerala as well, enabling the BJP to make inroads into Kerala constituencies.

It is time the Congress high command quickly stepped in to make the president of Kerala Pradesh Congress and perhaps most popular Congress man in the state Sudheeran who spearheads the liquor ban movement in Kerala liquor ban movement be made the Kerala CM .

Kerala CM Oommen Chandy has openly identified himself with the liquor lobbies and mafias saying the government must support their business as well and  reports suggest the liquor mafia has bribed him  as well along with finance minister Mani.

Also, there should be change in the party leadership in the state as continuity in policy of the Sudheeran must be ensured too.  Here the former Kerala CM and Indian defence minster AK Antony be made the KPSC chief.

Since the position of Congress party has been going from bad to worse in polls after polls, Congress high command would not take unnecessary risks in Kerala.

Sudheeran can contain, if not end totally the greedy malice caled corruption that made UDF government unpopular.