With Cong in denial mode, Alva hogs limelight

Margaret Alva emerged out of nowhere one fine morning and now she has grabbed the top slot on every newspaper, television channel and portal. While rival parties watch on with interest, a large part of the Congress has decided to keep mum.

Earlier this morning, senior Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharrief said the lady's entire approach to the crisis was wrong and that she should have sorted it out with the party high command instead.

However, there are a few Congress leaders like MP R L Jalappa who seemed sympathetic towards Alva's cause.

Speaking to rediff.com, Jalappa said he agreed with Alva to a certain extent.

"Her allegations regarding selling of seats during the Karnataka elections are true. I would not say that all seats were sold, but in some constituencies there has been hanky panky."

Though Jalappa seems to be the only existing Congress member to support her, he is also quick to add that he would not have redressed his grievances in the manner in which she did.  

"I would have brought the matter to the notice of the high command and settled it."

Jalappa refused to comment about the action the party may take against her. It was the sole discretion of the party high command, he said.

Congress spokesperson and Administrative Reforms Commission Chairperson Veerappa Moily, while reacting to Jalappa's statements, said: "Jalappa is a like a transit passenger. Why is everyone bringing up the Karnataka elections now? It was over long back and what is the use of broaching this subject now?"

The Congress has no intention of looking into the allegations that are being made for the simple reason that they are all 'baseless allegations'.

Regarding the Alva issue, he said Defence Minister A K Antony was there to look into the grievances.

"She had access to him and despite this she decided to voice her opinion in public."

Moily further says that her actions have had no effect on the party.

"This is a party of 120 years and several have come and gone, and those who have tried to destroy it have been destroyed themselves."

Moily, however, refused to comment on who would replace Alva in the Congress if at all the party decided to expel her or she quit on her own. The party high command is looking into the matter and a suitable decision will be taken on this issue soon.