CBI setback for ruling front

The campaign for the Lok Sabha poll on April 10 had taken a new twist last week when the high court made severe strictures against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the Kadakampally and Kalamaserry land grab case. While the adverse remarks gifted opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) a weapon against the UDF, the CBI has robbed the ruling front of a powerful issue.

The murder of the Marxist rebel leader by a gang alleged hired by the CPM was also the major poll plank of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP), which entered the fray seeking votes against political murders. The CBI probe ordered by the government on the eve of the election had helped the UDF and the RMP to put the LDF on the defensive.

The UDF government wanted the CBI to probe the larger conspiracy behind the murder of the Marxist rebel leader. However, the CBI said the case was not important to be investigated by a federal agency.

Reports from Delhi said that the agency had conveyed its decision to the Ministry of Personnel Affairs under the Prime Minister. The agency pointed out that the scope for further investigation in the case was limited since a court had passed its verdict in the case.

This is in line with the argument advanced by the CPM while opposing the CBI probe. Party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had termed the decision to hand over the probe to the CBI in the run up to the elections politically motivated.

• India