Solar scam-hit Chandy meets Rahul, Antony, Vayalar

Cornered by the Opposition LDF over the solar scam in the state, Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy on Friday met Congress heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi and discussed the prevailing political situation in the country. Later when reporters asked him if Rahul asked for the details of the scam he said, “When I meet Congress leaders, definitely all the issues... General political situation of Kerala is discussed... naturally this issue also was discussed.” The beleaguered chief minister also met Union ministers A.K. Antony and Vayalar Ravi, apart from Mrs Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel. Emphasising that he has nothing to conceal, Mr Chandy said that a judicial enquiry cannot be ordered when a police investigation was underway. He said, “Before completing the police investigation, if a judicial enquiry is ordered, then the culprits will get a chance to escape.”

*** Cong predicts N-E sweep AGE CORRESPONDENT New Delhi, July 19

The Congress party on Friday predicted a wave in its favour in the Northeast, saying it would win 20 of the total 25 seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections. “Coming election will bring good news for Congress in the Northeast,” Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar said while dismissing Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as “no challenge” to the party in the region. Mr Ghatowar, who hails from Assam, ruled out early Lok Sabha elections while expressing confidence that the Congress will win over 20 seats in eight states of the region, including Sikkim which together have a total of 25 seats. “Currently, we have 13 Lok Sabha seats in the region while three others are held by our supporting parties. We are confident of getting more than 20 seats in the Lok Sabha polls,” he told reporters.

*** ‘BJP involved in PMT scam’ AGE CORRESPONDENT BHOPAL, July 19

The latest PMT scam in Madhya Pradesh, which is being investigated by the Indore police, has acquired political dimensions, with Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Singh alleging on Thursday that the ruling BJP bigwigs are closely connected with those running the medical admission racket in the state. Mr Singh on Thursday demanding a CBI probe to expose the network of those involved in the scam.

*** CPM’s mediocrity led to its downfall, says party MLA TANYA BAGCHI Kolkata, July 19

CPI(M) MLA Rezzak Mollah once again took a dig at the party leadership stating that the mediocrity of the party had led to its downfall. The state committee member also said that the party needs to overhaul its leadership, reconstruct it so as to regain the support of the people. Mr Mollah had been the critique of the CPI(M) state leadership since the party lost the state Assembly election in 2011. The veteran leader after casting his vote said, “Mediocrity has seeped into the leadership at all levels including the top. The present leadership will not be able to improve the image of the party unless a complete change is brought in.” Significantly, the CPI(M) top brasses had often said that the party needs to reconstruct itself for reaching out to the masses. Mr Mollah said, “The party workers of the lower level is extremely mediocre. We need to reconstruct the party with dedicated youth who can work hard.”