Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretary M V Govindan reiterated on Friday that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will win the upcoming assembly election again with a decent margin. He asserted that a section of the media had allegedly built a narrative of a United Democratic Front (UDF) victory, which he claimed would turn out to be a farce once all votes are counted on May 4.
Allegations of BJP-UDF Collusion
Addressing a news conference, Govindan said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had ousted some of its local party functionaries in Kozhikode for siding with the UDF in the Vadakara and Nadapuram constituencies. This, he argued, proved the allegations of a BJP-UDF deal. However, he added that the Communist Party of India (CPI) had done an exemplary job by expelling a local leader who allegedly worked in favour of BJP state unit chief and party candidate in Nemom, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. "When wrong actions are detected, they should be corrected in the right way. CPI took that corrective step," he said.
Criticism of Opposition and Former Officials
Govindan alleged that MP Shafi Parambil was the coordinator of the BJP-UDF deal and asked party workers not to get provoked over it. The party secretary also criticized former Directors General of Police (DGPs) T P Senkumar and R Sreelekha for their harsh criticism and sloganeering against the state police. Govindan claimed that the BJP was promoting violence against police and that the former DGPs were leading this campaign.
Concerns Over Campus Violence and Student Unions
Referring to the death of Nithin Raj at Anjarakandy Dental College in Kannur, Govindan said the incident should prompt society to think aloud against the absence of campus politics in private colleges, especially professional institutions. He stated that the absence of student unions was helping anti-social elements and promoting anti-democratic practices on campuses. He urged the government to take strict action in the case.
Defense of Interreligious Harmony
Govindan also condemned the criticism unleashed by Sangh Parivar organizations against Nandagovindam Bhajans for singing a Christian devotional song at a temple festival in Kottayam. He said the group and the temple committee had taken an exemplary stand and added that attempts to find faults with those who call for interreligious harmony should be resisted.
