Thiruvananthapuram:
Muslim League strongman P K Kunhalikutty recently took oath as a minister in Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's Cabinet.
The 60-year-old was embroiled in a sex scandal in the 90s when there were allegations that an ice cream parlour in Kozhikode was being used to lure young women into prostitution.
Kunhalikutty was never made an accused in the case, but was forced to quit as Industries minister in 2005 after protests by the Opposition Left Front.
Now back as a minister, he remains unfazed.
"It's all a political propaganda," said Mr Kunhalikutty.
Months before the recent Assembly polls, the Left ordered a fresh probe into the scandal. In the recent election the Left used the sex scandal as its main campaign weapon against the UDF.
"If the Congress leadership has any respect towards moral values, they should reflect upon their actions," said MA Baby, CPM Central Committee member.
Former Chief Minister Achuthanandan has warned the government against having any tainted minister, but acting against Kunhalikutty will be tough.
The UDF has a thin majority in the 140-member Assembly and it wouldn't want to antagonise its biggest ally that won 20 of the 24 seats it contested.
Apart from Kunhalikutty, two other ministers in the UDF Cabinet - K M Mani and TM Jacob - both Congress allies are accused in corruption cases. The Opposition Left says these leaders may now exert pressure on the Congress to scuttle investigations.