Tharoor issue: Sonia holds consultations with party leaders

NEW DELHI: With the opposition set to raise the Shashi Tharoor-IPL controversy in Parliament, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday chaired a strategy session with senior party leaders.

Gandhi held consultations with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister A K Antony and political secretary to the Congress President Ahmed Patel. The three leaders are also part of the Congress core group.

On Thursday, Tharoor said he is open to making a statement in Lok Sabha on the issue of the Kochi IPL ownership controversy if asked to do so.

Tharoor had a meeting with Gandhi on Thursday evening. The Shashi Tharoor-IPL controversy issue is expected to generate heat in Parliament on Friday with the opposition planning to raise the matter involving the beleaguered Union minister whose resignation has been demanded by BJP and the Left parties.

Notices have been given in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha by several parties including BJP, Left and SP in the backdrop of allegations that Tharoor had misused his authority to help his friend Sunanda Pushkar get 'free' equity of the value of Rs 70 crore in IPL Kochi franchise.

The BJP had sharply reacted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that he will take action against Tharoor only after knowing "all the facts" of the case, saying all details were now in the public domain and there should be no delay in the matter.
Earlier, the party had asked for the sacking of Tharoor. SP on Friday joined the chorus of demand for Tharoor's sacking from government, saying he has been "exposed" in the IPL-Kochi bid controversy.

CPM leader Brinda Karat said Tharoor should step down immediately and government should investigate the whole issue.