Broad rainbow alliance against LDF govt. in making in Kerala, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warns of a broad rainbow alliance against the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday (January 29) alleged that a broad rainbow alliance led by the United Democratic Front (UDF) was in the making in Kerala against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

He was opening the three-day Kozhikode district conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] at Vadakara. Mr. Vijayan claimed that the UDF was joining hands with extremist organisations such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Social Democratic Party of India on one hand, while allying with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the other to regain power. He said that the people would see through these designs and defeat their plans.

Mr. Vijayan also came down on the Congress for not taking a consistent stand against the BJP at the national level, which, he alleged, had helped the latter win State Assembly elections. Mr. Vijayan said that there had been efforts to consolidate anti-BJP forces in various States ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. However, in some States where the Congress was a dominant party, it did not cooperate with those attempts. “The Congress’ narrow vision led to many unpleasant circumstances. Because of this, the BJP could return to power in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan,” he said.

Mr. Vijayan, a Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M), also claimed that the Congress continued its inconsistent stand even after the advances made by secular parties in the Lok Sabha polls. “Thus, the BJP could come to power in Haryana and Maharashtra as well. In the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, where the Aam Aadmi Party [AAP] is the main anti-BJP force, the Congress is opposing both AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal, instead of consolidating anti-BJP votes. It is reported that even Rahul Gandhi, the Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, will campaign against AAP there,” Mr. Vijayan pointed out. He also alleged that the latest University Grants Commission draft regulations on the appointment of college teachers, principals, and vice-chancellors were an attempt by the BJP to saffronise the education sector.

Meanwhile, the working report presented by P. Mohanan, district secretary, reportedly expressed concerns over the diminishing vote share of the party in Kozhikode in the Lok Sabha polls. Sources said that though the report complimented the increasing membership, solid cadre base, and better infrastructure for party work, there had not been a commensurate increase in the vote share. The delegates later held group discussions, followed by a public discussion, which will continue on Thursday. Mr. Mohanan would give his reply later in the evening. A new district secretary will be chosen on Friday. A public rally and red volunteer march too will be held on the day.