Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, was given a Lok Sabha ticket by the Congress party from Sivaganga constituency at Tamil Nadu. He was given a ticket despite the fact that he is under investigation in the INX Media case and Aircel Maxis case.
It now appears that the decision to award Karti with a ticket has led to discontentment within the Congress party in the state. Sudarshan Nachiappan, Congress leader and former union minister, has said that the cadres are disappointed with the decision. He further asserted that the Chidambaram family has done nothing for the people of the constituency and giving Karti a ticket could harm the reputation of the party.
Congress leader from Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga, Sudarshan Nachiappan: The
cadres from the constituency are disappointed. His (MP candidate Karti Chidambaram) family has done nothing for the constituency, instead they have accumulated wealth. This could damage Congress’s reputation. pic.twitter.com/IirWClSQzd— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019
The disgruntled Congress leader also alleged that Chidambaram senior intervened personally to ensure that his son was given the ticket. He claimed that until then, he was the front-runner for the seat. “My name was in the list and was about to be announced along with others. That was why I was asked to be present in Delhi and later told to reach Chennai to file my nomination papers. But Mr. Chidambaram intervened and ensured that his son was given the seat,” Nachiappan told The Hindu.
He stated further, “Till Monday the investigating agency cannot arrest him. If the judge says the agency is free to take its own step what will happen to him? Has Congress not been able to find a good candidate in the entire country? Is Mr. Karti a freedom fighter? If the court decides against him it will also reflect on the party and Prime Minister Modi is ready to utilise the opportunity.”
The Chidambarams have been facing a host of cases and yet, it hasn’t prevented the Congress party from giving Karti a ticket. Karti’s wife Srinidhi and mother Nalini who have complaints registered against them under the Black money Act are facing allegations of possessing undisclosed foreign assets. A charge sheet has been filed by the Income Tax Department in this regard. Karti’s mother Nalini is allegedly also involved in the infamous Saradha Chit Fund scam as well.
