In a sharp escalation ahead of Kerala’s Assembly elections, the CPI(M) has accused Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of undermining opposition unity with “provocative” attacks on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Left, alleging the party is prioritising electoral gains over its stated fight against communal and authoritarian forces…reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has launched a strong counterattack against Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing the Congress leadership of weakening the broader opposition narrative and acting as a “feeder organisation” for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In a statement issued by its Polit Bureau, the CPI(M) condemned what it termed “provocative statements” targeting Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and questioned Congress’s commitment to secular politics. The party argued that by focusing its criticism on the Left instead of the BJP, Congress leaders were contradicting their own claim of fighting communal-authoritarian forces.
The Left party further alleged that Congress’s political trajectory in several states has indirectly strengthened the BJP. It cited examples from Assam and Tripura, where former Congress leaders later joined the BJP, claiming this pattern demonstrated how the Congress had effectively functioned as a “feeder organisation” to its rival.
Highlighting its governance record, the CPI(M) asserted that Kerala, under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over the past decade, had maintained communal harmony without any major riots. It contrasted this with the Marad riots, which occurred under a Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government, and accused Congress of aligning with “minority fundamentalist forces” in the state’s electoral landscape.
The CPI(M) also criticised Rahul Gandhi for allegedly calling for action against an opposition Chief Minister through central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, stating that the party has consistently opposed the misuse of such institutions. It pointed to Congress’s earlier stance regarding AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal as evidence of what it described as an “opportunistic” approach.
The remarks come in response to Rahul Gandhi’s campaign speech launching the UDF’s election drive in Kerala, where he alleged a tacit partnership between the LDF and the BJP. Gandhi claimed that opposition leaders across India face multiple cases while questioning why similar scrutiny was not directed at the Kerala Chief Minister despite allegations of corruption. He also accused the LDF government of failing to deliver on its promise of creating 40 lakh jobs.
Echoing these sentiments, Kharge criticised the LDF’s governance on economic and employment fronts and described an alleged CPI(M)-BJP understanding as “CJP”. He asserted that Kerala voters were seeking change, framing the UDF’s campaign as an effort to “restore” the state to its people.
Kerala is set to vote on April 9, with results to be declared on May 4, as the Congress-led UDF attempts to unseat the incumbent LDF amid intensifying political exchanges.
