Click to play videoNew Delhi: Name and shame - that's what the BJP is challenging the Congress to do in the Madhu Koda scam. It wants the Congress to name the leaders who are involved in Rs 4,000 crore scam that Koda is accused in.
The Congress's defence is that it has started the probe and so has nothing to hide.
As campaigning for Jharkhand elections hots up, the tainted, former Jharkhand chief minister looms large on the horizon.
For the BJP, it's come as a political lifeline, a strong issue to hit out at the UPA with. It wants to know the names of the Congress men involved in the Koda scam and says why shouldn't the Congress share the blame for the alleged corruption by the Koda government.
BJP Spokesperson, Arun Jaitley said on Monday, "The Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate are reporting to the Centre. Big names are coming up from the investigations, but they have relations with the UPA, so the agencies will try covering up their names."
Meanwhile, as tour schedules of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi are being drawn up, so is its answer to BJP's charges.
Congress Spokesperson Manish Tewari said on Monday by way of an explanation: "We were not a part of the government (in Jharkhand) and gave it only outside support."
Sources say the Congress hopes to blunt the Koda controversy by claiming that it had the courage to initiate investigation into the financial fraud without caring for the political fallout on it.
However, both the Congress and the BJP are aware that if the Koda issue is pushed too far, it may singe both camps.
When Koda was forced to resign in favour of Shibu Soren, he had said that he would continue to play a role in the state's politics. Ironically Koda's words ring true today.
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