Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala Alleges Unholy Alliance Between CPM and BJP in Kerala
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has made explosive allegations of a covert political arrangement between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala. Speaking to the media in Kochi on Monday, Chennithala claimed this deal is designed to ensure the continuity of the current Left Democratic Front government while also securing electoral gains for the BJP.
Alleged Seat-Sharing Evidence in Ettumanoor and Palakkad
Chennithala pointed to specific constituencies as evidence of this alleged alliance. "The deal is evident in Ettumanoor and Palakkad constituencies, going by the candidates the NDA fielded," he asserted. The Congress leader specifically highlighted how "BJP has handed over seats to its new ally Twenty20 as part of this alliance with CPM in Ettumanoor." He warned voters that "every vote given to BJP is to help Pinarayi Vijayan" and the current administration.
Sabarimala Issue: Government Accused of Deceiving Devotees
The senior Congress leader launched a sharp attack on the government's handling of the sensitive Sabarimala temple issue. Chennithala questioned whether Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would "tender an apology to devotees on his earlier stance that women of menstrual age must be permitted into Sabarimala temple." He criticized the government's recent written submissions before the Supreme Court, claiming they lacked clarity on its position regarding the contentious matter.
Chennithala further alleged that the Left government had exerted pressure on the special investigation team probing the Sabarimala gold theft case. "SIT's failure to submit chargesheet on time helped the accused, including CPM leaders, secure bail," he claimed. The Congress leader predicted that "the government will face the ire of devotees in this election for having hurt their sentiments."
Criticism of Chief Minister's Conduct and Alleged BJP Appeasement
The Congress leader also criticized the language used by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against senior leader G Sudhakaran, who belongs to his own party, describing it as "not in keeping with Kerala culture." Chennithala made more serious allegations about the Chief Minister's political motivations, stating that "he has been attacking Rahul Gandhi to appease Narendra Modi."
According to Chennithala, "Gandhi is the only one fighting against BJP without compromise," while "Vijayan is hesitant to criticize the central government or Modi because of his affinity with BJP." These comments represent a significant escalation in the political rhetoric ahead of crucial elections in the state.
Congress Unity and Leadership Contrast
Addressing internal party matters, Chennithala asserted that there is no dispute within the United Democratic Front about who the next chief minister will be. He emphasized that "election victory is the priority" and that "the party will unanimously accept any decision taken by the high command."
Drawing a contrast with the ruling party, Chennithala noted that "while there is only one leader in CPM, Congress's strength is that there are many leaders capable of leading the administration." This statement appears designed to highlight what the Congress perceives as its organizational advantage over the more centralized leadership structure of the Communist party.
The allegations come at a critical juncture in Kerala politics, with multiple electoral battles looming and the Sabarimala issue continuing to influence political discourse in the state. Chennithala's claims about a CPM-BJP understanding, if proven, could significantly alter political equations in a state traditionally dominated by bipolar politics between the Left and Congress-led fronts.
