Kochi: As the BJP-led second NDA government at the Centre is entering its fourth year in office, a fresh allegation of corruption has been levelled against the Kerala unit of the party.

While allegations of party leaders accepting money for the allocation of petrol pumps rocked the Kerala unit when Atal Bihari Vajpayee-headed NDA government was in power, this time medical college scam is haunting the party.

During the Vajpayee regime, it was alleged that the BJP leaders in Kerala accepted crores of rupees to allot petrol pumps. The dealings were carried out even with the knowledge of party leadership. It is said that the leaders even demanded money from party activists.

A preliminary investigation revealed corruption to the tune of nearly Rs 18 crore. However, sources say the corruption was bigger than what meets the eye. Some of the leaders, who collected large amounts in the name of party, handed over just Rs 2 crore to party. They personally dealt with the rest of the amount.

Majority of the allegations were directed at a senior leader, who was assigned to BJP by the RSS. It was almost an 'open' deal which was carried out with the knowledge of central leadership.

Citing insecurity and other issues in depositing money in party’s account, the leaders handled the money on their own.

The Raman Pillai committee, that probed the heavy loss of BJP in Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha by poll necessitated by the death of P K Vasudevan Nair, found that corruption had played a role in the poor show.

Party nominee and former state president C K Padmanabhan could garner below 37,000 votes only.

The panel that probed the poll debacle noted that the money collected in the name of petrol pumps was even utilised for anti-party activities. Despite the scam which came out in the open, no action was taken.

A similar episode is repeating when the party is in power at the Centre again.

Reports say certain party leaders had collected money for allotting medical colleges. The complaint reached the central leadership as a result of infighting between the factions. Accordingly, party president Amit Shah had directed an investigation into the incident.

A panel headed by K P Sreesan and A K Nazeer conducted a probe and submitted a report accusing four leaders.

The probe also found the involvement of few more leaders.

Sources say the RSS had relatively less influence over BJP when the petrol pump scam surfaced and allegations were levelled at an RSS leader. Now, with the RSS gaining more influence within the party state unit, the stance taken by the party is eagerly awaited.

Strict action against the corrupt: Kummanam

Responding to reports, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said he is unaware of the petrol pump scam during the Vajpayee regime.

“I had taken over the mantle hardly one-and-half-years ago. If the enquiry report regarding medical college scam names any person, they will be dealt with stern actin. The party posts won’t come to their rescue,” he said.

Meanwhile, P S Sreedharan Pillai, who occupied the state president’s chair when the petrol pump scam surfaced, said he is uninformed of any investigation into the scam.

“The controversies over the allocation of petrol pumps surfaced before my tenure. After assuming charge, I had issued strict instructions that party leaders should not intervene in allotment of petrol pumps,” he added.