Gold theft, Rahul's arrest: Controversies flowing in continuously before election: Fronts in turmoil

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Sabarimala gold looting issue was fuming till the last day. Rahul Mamkootathil's arrest happened suddenly. As the assembly elections approach, the controversies are changing continuously. The LDF and UDF are also in a state of turmoil. The BJP, which was of the stance 'development is needed, not controversy,' has also changed its tune. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Sabarimala is a national issue, which makes it clear that the BJP sees it as a political weapon.

Who will the SIT take into custody after the Tantri in the gold theft case is putting the LDF in a difficult position. The SIT had questioned former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and former Devaswom board member K.P. Shankaradas. The LDF is worried about whose names have come up in the statement of the arrested Tantri and with whom the Tantri has been in contact.

Rahul Mamkootathil's arrest comes at a time when the UDF is trying to stir up the Sabarimala issue. Although Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala have repeatedly said that Rahul has been expelled from the party and there is no need to comment on it anymore, the Congress is also in a predicament. This is because some of the allegations that have been raised now are from when Rahul was the Youth Congress President. Only Satheesan and Chennithala took a stand that strict action should be taken against Rahul as soon as the allegations of harassment were raised. Prominent leaders including the KPCC President and the UDF Convener initially took a stand to protect Rahul as much as possible.

Allegations targeting Shafi

Dr. P. Sarin, who went to the CPM, and DYFI state secretary V.K. Sanoj had raised the allegation that Rahul Mamkootathil has a flat in Vadakara, the Lok Sabha constituency of Shafi Parambil MP. This was clearly targeting Shafi. Sarin says that there is a statement that the victim was invited to that flat.

Ethics Committee crucial

Speaker A.N. Shamsir has said that action will be taken against Rahul. He said that the Ethics and Privilege Committee will look into the matter. It is impossible to say which direction Kerala politics will take in the coming days. Amit Shah's statement that the Sabarimala issue should be handed over to a central agency is not without purpose. BJP will also bring out their A-game by the time the assembly election campaign heats up.