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Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) strongman Pinarayi Vijayan made light of Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s remark that ‘he would not utter a word against CPI(M) barbs’ during his campaign in the State.
Gandhi made the comment on Thursday while speaking to newspersons after filing nomination papers to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad, the second seat after Amethi in Uttar Pradesh,which he represents.
The measured words from Gandhi caught not just his own party but even the CPI(M) unawares, since the latter is its proclaimed principal rival in Kerala. But both are alliance partners in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Caught unaware
The DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, the Secular Progressive Alliance, features both the CPI(M) as well as the CPI, partners of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala and sworn rival of the Congress.
Incidentally, the alliance also has the Indian Union Muslim League, which is the second major alliance partner of the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.
According to Vijayan, Wayanad is a proxy for the precipitous depths to which values and ethics-based politics in the country have been lowered. “The CPI(M) can do well without what he described as the benevolence of the Congress President,” he said.
“What is the message the Congress chief is trying to send out by holding forth against the BJP, even while choosing to contest from a seat which it is not fighting? The CPI(M) is fighting to win whoever the candidate, and Wayanad is no special case.”
Also read: Rahul to file nomination from Amethi on April 10, Sonia from Rae Bareli on April 11
MT Ramesh, General Secretary of the State unit of the BJP, said here that it has become clear that the CPI(M) and the Congress had a secret understanding between them.
“It appears that the Congress President would need the votes of both the CPI(M) as well as the Indian Union Muslim League, alliance partner of the United Democratic Front (UDF), to make it to Parliament,” said Ramesh.
“How can the State leadership of the Congress or its other candidates in the State campaign against the CPI(M) when its own National President has abdicated the responsibility,” questioned Ramesh.
“The secret understanding must be exposed for what it is and called off,” he added.
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