Painting a grim picture, senior Congress leader P C Chacko today said UPA's performance could be hit in the coming Lok Sabha polls due to various scams and failure to highlight its achievements, but party's state leadership in Kerala disagreed with his view and put a gag on such statements.
Speaking in Kochi, Chacko said Congress was going through an adverse phase ahead of Lok Sabha elections due to various scams. He also criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he had failed to interact with media on various issues.
"It is very unpredictable situation for Congress going into the election. We are going through adverse phase now," the AICC spokesperson said at a meet-the-press programme at Ernakulam Press Club.
In a swift damage control measure, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Chief V M Sudheeran differed with Chacko's views and said Congress leaders should abstain from making statements that creates confusion especially when political climate in the state was in favour of ruling Congress-led UDF.
"I do not know in what circumstances Chacko made such a remark. But, in no way I can agree with that statement," he said responding to reporters' queries in Alappuzha.
"There are victory chances for Congress in the country," he said, adding, "Action would be taken against persons who make statements dwarfing the Congress' winning chances."
Chacko, who appeared to blame the Prime Minister, said Singh was an expert in macro management. But there was some "communication gap".
"Even though Prime Minister is one of the best economists in the country, he failed to address the media properly on various issues," the Congress candidate from Chalakudy constituency said.
Chacko, who headed the JPC on 2G spectrum allocation scam, said the negative campaign against the governemnt due to various scams and the failure in highlighting its achievements could affect the UPA's performance in the polls, he said.
"All leaders in the party, including myself, are responsbile for this", he said.
However, he said in Kerala, the wave was in favour of Congress.
