Cong. aspires to split anti-BJP votes in Kerala, alleges CPI(M)

M.V. Govindan accuses party of indirectly helping BJP by fielding Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal in Wayanad and Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituencies

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has accused the Congress in Kerala of indirectly helping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by fielding its top leaders from the State instead of taking the fight to the Sangh Parivar’s heartlands in Hindispeaking North India.

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan said on Tuesday that the Congress had fielded Rahul Gandhi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal in the Wayanad and Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituencies. In the process, the Congress aspired to split the antiBJP votes in Kerala, where the Left Democratic Front (LDF), a key INDIA bloc ally, held significant sway. It had identified the LDF and not the BJP as the main enemy.

Scatter secular votes

Mr. Govindan said by fielding Mr. Venugopal in Kerala; the Congress had effectively ceded the Rajya Sabha seat the latter held in Rajasthan to the current BJP disposition. Given Congress leaders’ penchant for defecting to the BJP at the drop of a hat, a vote for the United Democratic Front in Kerala was a referendum for the BJP at the Centre.

He said the Congress repeatedly failed to harness the antiBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vote in the recent Assembly elections, estimated to be 67% of the electorate. Instead, Mr. Govindan said, the Congress helped scatter secular votes by bullheadedly believing that it could go it alone at the hustings without accommodating antiSangh Parivar forces at the regional level.

Moreover, Mr. Govindan said the Congress’ attack lines against the LDF were scarcely different than that of the BJP.

For one, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has defended the Central government’s financial embargo on Kerala by falsely blaming the LDF for the State’s fiscal crisis.

However, the Supreme Court order directing the Centre to give Kerala its due share of the national revenue has belied the CongressBJP narrative amplified by Mr. Satheesan.

Moreover, Mr. Govindan said the apex court said Kerala had distinctive welfare and development needs, including a robust social security net, and ordered the Centre to frame a special fiscal aid package for the State.

The court had also questioned the fiscal wisdom of the Centre’s decision to lower Kerala’s net borrowing limit.