Thiruvananthapuram: AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Sunday strongly criticized CPM for its recent remarks against Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Left party of targeting him to divert attention from its own political setbacks.
In a statement, Venugopal described CPM’s criticism of Gandhi as “ironic and misplaced,” noting that CPM relies on support from Congress and its allies outside Kerala to maintain its political relevance. He pointed out CPM candidates in states like Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu had benefited from alliances and campaigns associated with Gandhi, making the party’s current attacks contradictory.
Venugopal said CPM was ignoring the democratic convention that Leader of Opposition is drawn from the largest opposition party in Parliament. He alleged that CPM’s criticism reflected political frustration arising from a series of electoral setbacks, including its recent performance in Kerala.
Defending INDIA bloc, Venugopal said the alliance was formed to protect democracy and the Constitution from what he described as BJP’s authoritarian policies. Former CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury had clearly understood and supported the broader objectives of the coalition, he added. The Alappuzha MP said Congress’s political decisions, including post-election cooperation in Tamil Nadu, were aimed at safeguarding secular governance and preventing attempts to destabilize elected govts. He accused CPM of selectively ignoring these realities while pursuing a narrow political agenda.
Highlighting Gandhi’s role in national politics, Venugopal said the former had consistently challenged the alleged misuse of central investigative agencies against opposition politicians. However, CPM increasingly confined itself to state-level political considerations, he said.
Calling upon CPM brass to introspect on the party’s declining influence, especially in West Bengal, Venugopal urged it to focus on rebuilding its political base instead of making what he termed “baseless allegations” against Gandhi.
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