In a sharp rebuke directed at the Congress party, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asserted on Thursday that the Left parties do not require Congress’s validation for opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies. This statement came in response to allegations made by Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, insinuating that Vijayan was soft on PM Modi to shield himself from central agency investigations into his government’s various allegations.
Vijayan emphasized during a press conference that it is ironic for Rahul Gandhi and VD Satheesan, both from the Congress party, to question why he didn’t criticize Modi. He stated, “The Left doesn’t need Congress’s validation for opposing PM Modi’s misguided policies and the RSS influencing them.” Vijayan urged those who had shown deference to Golwalkar’s photo, lit lamps, and sought votes for the RSS to reflect on their own actions.
Rahul Gandhi, in his campaign speeches, has alleged that while central investigative agencies target other opposition-run governments, they refrain from doing so in Kerala, suggesting a possible understanding between CM Vijayan and PM Modi. This allegation echoes the sentiments of Congress leaders in the state against the Chief Minister.
Furthermore, Vijayan questioned the secular credentials of the Congress, accusing it of “degenerating into BJP’s B team.” He pointed out that Congress did not display the flags of its ally Indian Union Muslim League during Rahul Gandhi’s campaign in Wayanad, citing it as an example of the party’s weakening secular tradition.
According to Vijayan, the Congress lacks genuine ideological or practical motivation to oppose the BJP beyond superficial rhetoric crafted by PR agencies. He highlighted that the rivalry between Congress and BJP is primarily about electoral politics and power struggles rather than substantive ideological differences.
Expressing confidence in the strong performance of the Left Democratic Front in the upcoming general election in Kerala, Vijayan also questioned the credibility of pre-poll surveys. He criticized certain media outlets for propagating half-truths and misleading information, alleging that pre-poll survey results lack transparency in methodology and are often manipulated to mislead the public.
While the Left parties and Congress are part of the larger INDIA bloc, they are political adversaries in Kerala, where Congress is currently in opposition as part of the UDF alliance. All 20 constituencies in Kerala will vote on April 26 in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress won 15 seats, while its allies, including the Indian Union Muslim League, secured three seats, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) won one seat in Alappuzha.