In politics, timing is everything and Saritha Nair, an accused in a fraud case could not have chosen a better moment to hit back at Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. With barely three months to go for the Assembly polls, she told the commission probing the solar scam that she had paid Chandy Rs 1.9 crore to bag government subsidies and other benefits for her solar energy venture. Her project went bust and she was arrested for duping investors.
The Congress high command has decided to back Chandy even though it might fuel the opposition campaign, because asking him to step down would be tantamount to admitting guilt. The party is banking on the High Court to stay the order of the vigilance court to the police to file an FIR against the Chandy. One way or the other, this issue is going to be milked by the opposition and the party will have to come up with a strategy to counter it. Chandy has attempted to shift attention by linking the allegations to liquor barons who are upset with his prohibition policy. However, most political observers agree that the chief minister is now tainted and he could be more of a liability than an asset in the election campaign. The allegation are yet to be proved, but then, politics is more about perception than proof.
