Imagine congress led united Democratic Front's Chief whip in Kerala assembly wearing a Saffron Shawl and flagging of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's "Run for Unity" marathon organised by BJP.
This at a time when Congress was defeated by BJP in assembly elections and the later is preparing for a bigger victory in Loksabha elections. But Chief Whip of Kerala assembly P C George is not at all remorseful about this magnanimous gesture he had on Sunday in Kottayam in Kerala. George, Vice president of Kerala Congress (M) said that he doesn't find anything wrong in participating in a function organized by BJP. "The marathon was conducted on Sardar Patel's death anniversary day in order to raise fund for building his statue. BJP leaders invited me to flag off the run and I readily agreed to do so as I admire Patel. I have immense respect for Sardar Vallabhai Patel," says George.
Though function was held as a part of mobilization for building a 182 metre statue of Sardar Patel in Narmada river in Gujarat, it is widely seen as move by the Gujarat Chief minister Narendra Modi to promote himself as part of his upcoming election campaign. To the horror of UDF leaders, George was also seen distributing Saffron T-shirts with Narendra Modi's picture embedded in it to the runners.
He waved the t-shirt in full view of the channel cameramen presented at the function. State Congress leaders have expressed shock over the incident and called for immediate removal of George from Chief Whip post.
"This is something congress can't tolerate. P C George was ridiculing congress for quite sometime now and he openly participated in a function organized by opponent BJP. There should not be any compromise this time in the case of George," said former KPCC president K Muraleedharan. "This is unacceptable. George should go," exhorted congress MLA T N Prathapan. Kerala Congress (M) Chairman and finance minister of Kerala, K M Mani said that he will discuss the topic within the party and will take appropriate action against George.
"George's act is deplorable," says KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala. "George had crossed all limits now. He should not be allowed to continue as chief whip," said Congress spokesperson Panthalam Sudhakaran.
This is not the first time George is creating troubles for UDF. P C George was emerged as a headache for Chandy government for sometime now. His harsh criticism of fellow ministers and members of the ruling front was irritating the UDF for the past year and a half. His remarks on Congress ministers and others within the party had even provoked KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala to openly declare that the party won't tolerate his foul-speak and will deal with him if he continues to attack Congress leaders. George had even written a letter against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to Congress president Sonia Gandhi that he had evidences in his hand to prove the role of Omman Chandy in the solar scam in August 14, 2013.
George's acceptance of BJP's invitation to inaugurate the marathon in Kottayam is also seen as Kerala Congress (M)'s strategy to get BJP votes to their candidate Jose K Mani in Kottayam constituency. "Kerala Congress (M) think that Jose K Mani won't win unless he get BJP votes from the constituency.
P C George might have attended the function BJP with the blessings of Kerala Congress (M) Chairman K M Mani as he wanted his son to become MP again," says an insider. It is a known fact that Kerala Congress (M) was always lenient towards BJP and never opposed them severely even in the past.
With George's endorsement of BJP campaign for Modi, Congress leaders in the state are embarrassed as BJP will use it judiciously just as in past too. Earlier Congress MLA A P AbdullaKutty and state labour minister Shibu Baby John were landed in trouble for praising the developmental activities of Narendra Modi in Gujarat. Former Supreme Court Judge and the minister of first left government in Kerala, Justice V R Krishna Iyer also landed in trouble for showering praises on Modi.
