Kerala government chief whip writes to Sonia Gandhi

In further embarrassment to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, under attack from opposition over the solar scam, Kerala government Chief Whip P C George today wrote to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi claiming that the CM was aware of certain facts on the matter and the issue had dented the image of the party-led UDF government in the state.
In a letter to Gandhi, George, a nominee of the KC-M, the third largest partner in the UDF, pointed out that Chandy was aware of certain facts on solar issue and the way the government handled the matter was not correct.
George, a known critic of the government, also said the issues connected with the failed attempt on Cabinet reshuffle by inducting KPCC Chief Ramesh Chennithala, had also badly affected the government's image.

George requested Gandhi to bring Chennithala into a key position in the government, sources close to him said.
Chandy had conveyed to UDF partners his readiness to include himself and his office under the ambit of the judicial probe announced by government into the issue, but made it clear that he was not going to resign holding that the campaign against him by Opposition was politically motivated.
The scam relates to cheating people of huge sums of money by accused Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha Nair, both under arrest, by offering solar energy solutions. A Special Investigation Team probing the case has completed its probe.

The case assumed a serious political dimension with the arrest of Tenny Joppan, a personal assistant in the Chief Minister's office, for his alleged links with the accused.
The CPI-M led LDF opposition has been alleging that such a huge scam would not have taken place without the collusion of the Chief Minister.