Kozhikode: Rift has surfaced among the party functionaries in BJP in Kerala with the central leadership showing soft corner to a few leaders in the medical college scam.

The central unit’s move to absolve, State Vice President M T Ramesh and minority Morcha National Executive Member A K Nazeer and Sateesh Nair and crucify State Secretary V V Rajesh is likely to fuel feud in the party.

Submitting the original report to the vigilance department will ring alarm bell for Ramesh and Kummanam. This has not gone well with former State President V Muraleedharan who backs Rajesh.

Protecting Sateesh Nair, who was Kummanam’s personal staff in Delhi, is also going to create more problems within the party. The party is believed to have directed the two members of the BJP probe team K P Sreeshan and Nazeer to present a revised report before the vigilance team.

R Shaji, a promotor of a private medical college had complained to the BJP that he did not get sanction to start the medical college despite paying a bribe of Rs 5.6 crore to R S Vinod, convenor, cooperation cell.

A two member committee comprising A K Nazeer and Sreeshan was set up to investigate the matter. This report was allegedly leaked out by V V Rajesh.

The party state executive meeting held at Thrissur is likely to ratify the central unit’s decision.