The Hindu : BJP wants Sonia to clarify on allegations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 20, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

BJP wants Sonia to clarify on allegations

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, MARCH 19. The BJP has demanded that the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, clarify on the allegations by three Congress leaders in State that party tickets were cornered by those who had money and influence and were not decided on the basis of merit.

"The BJP views the allegation that Parliamentary seats had become a saleable item very seriously. The Congress high command must express its views on the statements made by Pandalam Sudhakaran, and the KPCC general secretaries, Saratchandraprasad and Rajmohan Unnithan,'' the BJP State president, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, told presspersons here today.

Mr. Pillai pointed out that the allegations made by the Congress leaders was not confined to Kerala alone. It had assumed national connotations.

In addition, the list had been screened and cleared by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC). As such, the AICC and the party high command had a responsibility to clarify on the issue and make their stand clear, he said. The BJP leader said the happenings in the Congress were a clear indication of the sorry state into which the party had fallen.

The BJP wanted the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, to institute a Vigilance inquiry into the allegations against the Electricity Minister K. Muraleedharan. "The complaint has come from an insider in the Congress and cannot be brushed aside lightly,'' Mr. Pillai said.

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