Rahul alleges PM wants LDF to win Kerala polls
Alleging a ‘partnership’ between the CPI(M) and the BJP in Kerala, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the ruling LDF to win the April 9 Assembly elections in the southern State.
Addressing an election rally, Gandhi reiterated his charge that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is fighting the combined forces of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP. Two former CPI(M) leaders — V Kunhikrishnan and TK Govindan — who are contesting as independents with the support of the UDF, were also present on the stage.
“This election is a fight between two ideologies —that of the Left Front led by CPI(M) and that of the UDF. For the first time, we are seeing a partnership between the BJP and the Left Front,” he said.
He said that it is quite surprising that a Left party is aligning with an extreme Right-wing party, because they have diametrically opposite ideologies. “So the question is, how is it possible that a Left party combines with a Right-wing party? This is like a puzzle,” Gandhi said.
“Some answers to the puzzle are sitting on the stage. There are two veteran leaders from CPI(M) here today. Why are they sitting on our stage and not campaigning for CPI(M) and the chief minister?” he asked.
Gandhi alleged that what is today called the Left Front is no longer a Left or even a centrist formation.
“In fact, they are partnering with the BJP because they are corporate parties. They are no longer parties of the people. The proof is sitting on the stage now. People with Left-minded thinking are with the Congress, and the party is supporting them,” he said.
Questioning the BJP’s stand in Kerala, Gandhi said that while the prime minister speaks about religion, temples and God elsewhere, he does not raise the Sabarimala gold loss issue in the state.
He alleged that CPI(M) leaders were involved in the gold loss at Sabarimala and accused the BJP of remaining silent on the issue.
He further said that Left leaders contesting elections as independents with the support of the UDF show that the CPI(M) is no longer a true Left party.
Gandhi said the reason is that the BJP wants the CPI(M) in power in Kerala.
“Because they know that they can control the CPI(M). They know that they cannot control the UDF and the Congress,” he said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi knows that only the Congress, and not the CPI(M), can challenge him across the country.
Senior leaders such as K C Venugopal, K Sudhakaran and Sunny Joseph, along with UDF candidates contesting from various constituencies, were present at the event.
