Kerala Assembly polls: State BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar says ‘real deal’ between Congress and CPI(M)

BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar claims Congress and CPI(M) have a secret alliance, countering allegations of collusion with the BJP.

Hitting back at the Congress over its allegations of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) being involved in a “deal” for the Assembly elections in Kerala, BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said “the real deal” is between the Congress and the CPI(M), “who are in an alliance in 27 States and 8 Union Territories”, including Puducherry which is also going to the polls.

“The name of the deal is the INDIA bloc. Has the Congress done anything as an Opposition party for the past 10 years to question the failings of the LDF government, be it the Sabarimala gold theft or the crises in the education and health sectors? They have remained silent all through these 10 years. The Congress also has a deal with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the (Indian Union) Muslim League. The Muslim League, which remote-controls the Congress, has demanded a Deputy Chief Minister’s post and six Minister posts if the UDF comes to power,” alleged Mr. Chandrasekhar.

He also accused the Congress of spreading lies over the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to make gains in the elections.

“The Congress claims that the amendments are anti-Christian with an aim to sow fear in the minds of an entire community. However, these attempts have failed. Our request to all the communities is not to fall for the politics of lies practised by the Congress,” he said.

BJP State general secretary M.T. Ramesh alleged that “an unholy axis of the CPI(M), the Congress and the Muslim League” are working together to defeat the BJP.

The CPI(M)’s decision to change its candidates for the Manjeswaram and Kasaragod constituencies at the last minute are part of an attempt to aid the IUML, he alleged.