A political war of words ensued in Kerala on Sunday after Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan alleged an underhanded deal between the ruling CPI(M) and the BJP in at least 10 constituencies for the upcoming elections.
Both parties dismissed the allegations, terming them baseless.
Satheesan alleged that the CPI(M)-led LDF was fielding “weak” candidates in at least 10 seats where the BJP is a strong force, in order to defeat the Congress-led UDF.
In return, the BJP has allotted several key seats in central Kerala to its “weak” allies like Twenty-20 to help the LDF, he claimed.
The crux of Satheesan’s allegations lay centred on the Palakkad constituency, where the Congress has fielded actor-turned-politician Ramesh Pisharody against BJP’s Sobha Surendran.
The CPI(M) has backed Independent candidate NMR Razaq, a well-known restaurateur and businessman.
Pisharody replaces sitting MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was expelled from the Congress over multiple rape allegations.
Also Read | All three major fronts finalise candidates for 140 Kerala seats
“Palakkad is a constituency where the Congress has won by 18,000 votes (in the last bypoll). The BJP is the closest rival. The LDF has fielded a weak candidate in order to split the votes of the UDF. He (Razaq) has been fielded in Palakkad to intentionally help the BJP. There is a deal between the two parties,” Satheesan alleged.
However, Twenty-20 party chief coordinator Sabu M Jacob said such charges indicate that the UDF and the LDF are “scared” of the NDA’s strength.
CPI(M) central committee member AK Balan claimed that Satheesan had a “communal agenda” in mind by pointing to the Left’s Muslim candidate Razaq in Palakkad.
Senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan rubbished the claims, saying: These are just allegations that have been raised for years. Where is the real deal? In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Congress and CPI(M) are together in an alliance.
