Tiruvananthapuram: With just ten days left for the crucial Puthupally by poll in Kottayam district of Kerala, the ruling CPM has accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of deliberately trying to create suspicion in the minds of people regarding their senior leaders.
The CPM is upset over the recent raids carried out by the ED on the house of former Cooperation Minister A C Moideeen which went on for 22 hours. The raids were carried out in connection 200 crore bank fraud unearthed in CPM controlled Karuvannur Cooperative Bank in Thrissur district. The raids were carried out as per the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED suspects that loans were approved fraudulently by the bank and disbursed in the form of cash to non-member benamis without proper collaterals. The central agency believes that such loans were sanctioned under the instructions of Moideen, a charge that the former minster has denied.
The ED raids have put the CPM state leadership on the back foot in view of the Puthupally by poll. The constituency fell vacant following the death of former chief minister Oommen Chandy who held the seat continuously for 53 years. While his son Chandy Oommen is in the fray for UDF, the LDF has fielded CPM leader Jacik C Thomas.
CPM state secretary M V Govindan says the probe into Karuvannur fraud case has already been completed and there were no adverse remarks against Moideen. “Moideen is a person who is leading a clean public life. What was seized from AC Moideen's house ? There is a deliberate attempt to propagate that something incriminating has been found. There is also an attempt to shut the voice of opposition using the ED,” he said.
The CPM leader took a dig at the Congress led UDF saying that when the ED comes to Kerala they welcome it. However, when similar raids are conducted in other states, the UDF opposes ED move.
The CPM state secretary alleged that a series of campaigns have been launched by the UDF with the help of central agencies in the backdrop of Puthupally by polls. The UDF had earlier claimed that it would be a cakewalk. However as the campaign progresses, the Congress has realised that they are in for a tight contest and the LDF candidate Jacik C Thomas is better placed compared to last elections, he said.
Meanwhile, a number of ministers have landed in Puthupally to campaign for the LDF candidate. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who addressed an election meeting the other day, is expected to campaign in six panchayats in the coming days.
The Congress leadership says the bypoll is a referendum on the performance of Pinarayi Vijayan government.
