Kerala medical college scam: BJP may spare Kummanam Rajasekharan

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP president Amit Shah is unlikely to take action against his state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan as he feels the medical college scam happened because he is not a seasoned politician. 

However, B. L. Santhosh, the organising joint-general secretary in charge of Kerala, is most likely to get the boot, limiting his role to Lakshadweep, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The BJP appears hamstrung over a cleanup in Kerala as they fear further mudslinging. Also, with the Lok Sabha in session, they are adopting a “wait and watch policy”. 

But leaders here believe Mr Shah will take drastic steps against others under the scanner, including those who leaked the internal report on the multi-crore scam.

Mr Rajasekharan, recuperating from viral fever, is relieved to some extent as he has got the backing Mr Shah.

“He is not a politician," a top leader concludes. "Mr Santhosh was given the charge of Kerala on the promise that he would deal with the factionalism. Instead, it got aggravated, and Mr Shah has noticed it.”

All its four state general secretaries except V. Muraleedharan loyalist K. Surendran have demanded the removal of Mr Santhosh.

“Mr Rajasekharan had reported the expelled leader R. S. Vinod's involvement in the scam to Mr Santhosh a month back and wanted to discuss it in the core committee. But he failed to share it with Delhi, and eventually, the rivals leaked it,” said another leader.

Mr Muraleedharan has the backing of former state president C. K. Padmanabhan, who has been keeping a low profile.