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Tag: Kerala Polls 2021

  • Oommen Chandy not in Nemom, ‘A’ group leaders breathe straightforward

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leaders of the ‘A’ group within the Congress heaved a sigh of aid on Friday after the state unit leaders declared in New Delhi that former chief minister Oommen Chandy would contest the approaching meeting elections from his Puthuppally constituency. The group leaders had been fuming since his title was urged for the Nemom seat. They felt that the Congress had fallen into the entice laid by the CPM which alleged an “adjustment” between the Congress and the BJP in Nemom after the saffron celebration threw sufficient hints that its former state president Kummanam Rajasekharan can be fielded there.

    The Chandy camp was peeved with Congress state president Mullappally Ramachandran as he was the primary one to suggest Chandy’s title in Nemom. However, on the primary day itself, Chandy had expressed his reservation over such a transfer. Halfway by the screening committee assembly in New Delhi, the Nemom candidature got here up for dialogue. 

    Already, the ‘A’ group was a wounded lot with lots of their senior leaders having been sidelined within the possible candidate listing. For an individual like Chandy, who’s a family title in his hometown of Puthuppally from the place he had been elected to the meeting for a file 11 instances, ditching his voters now was unthinkable. Moreover, the 77-year-old didn’t favour his son, Chandy Oommen, contesting from the seat at this juncture. 

    A senior Congress MP and a trusted lieutenant of Chandy informed TNIE that the Congress management mustn’t have given undue prominence to Nemom. “The pros and cons of Oommen Chandy contesting from Nemom should have been discussed by the party leadership before coming up with such a proposal. As far as we are concerned, Chandy has categorically stated that he will contest only from Puthuppally,” he stated.The BJP has been dilly-dallying on Kummanam’s candidature in Nemom and it’s ready for the Congress listing to be out. 

    In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Nemom was the one meeting phase out of the seven that make up Thiruvananthapuram parliamentary constituency the place Kummanam had achieved higher than Shashi Tharoor. “Tharoor had elevated his vote share from 26.97% in 2014 to 32.88% in 2019. Though Nemom has all the time seen a consolidation of Hindu votes, there are over 32,000 Muslim and 30,000 Christian votes, apart from one other 10,000 votes from Dalit, Vellala and Ezhava communities.

    There are 74 NSS karayogams in Nemom, which may additionally work in favour of UDF. It was after analysing these elements that Mullappally urged {that a} bigwig like Chandy be fielded there,” stated a frontrunner near the Congress state president. However, CWC chief A Ok Antony himself had requested the celebration management to train warning in fielding Chandy in Nemom, which turned essential in Friday’s choice, ‘A’ group leaders imagine. 

  • Congress fails to crack list, 91 to contest, names out on Sunday

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unlike expected, the Congress did not announce its list of candidates for the state assembly polls on Friday, but said  it would contest in 91 seats and had finalised names of 81. The list will be released on Sunday after finalising candidates for the remaining 10 contentious seats, including Nemom.Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said no MP will contest this time, thus quashing the rumours about Shashi Tharoor contesting from Nemom. It also ended the chances of K Muraleedharan and Rajya Sabha MP K C Venugopal entering the state poll fray. None of the leaders will contest from two seats. Oommen Chandy will contest from Puthuppally again, it is learnt.

    The names of 81 candidates were cleared at the hour-long meeting of central election committee (CEC) chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi  in New Delhi.A senior leader told TNIE that apart from Nemom, the remaining contentious seats are Kundara, Kollam, Aranmula, Kanjirappally, Tripunithura, Pattambi, Nilambur, Tavanur and Kalpetta.

    The Congress leadership also announced the allocation of seats to the UDF allies.While the Muslim League will contest in 27 seats, Kerala Congress Joseph faction has been allocated 10. While RSP got five seats, two went to Nationalist Congres Kerala and one each to Janata Dal, CMP and Kerala Congress (Jacob).

    “If RMP’s K K Rema contests from Vadakara, we’ll part with one seat,” Chennithala said.Even when the state leadership said they had taken a unanimous call on the 81 seats, there is growing dissent over the way Mullappally jumped the gun on Nemom. It is reliably learnt that prior to the CEC meeting, a peeved K Sudhakaran, MP, vented his anger at Chennithala, Chandy and Mullappally over the list by squeezing a paper and throwing it at the trio’s face. 

    Uncertainty over Nemom

    “The official announcement of the Congress candidates in the 91 seats will be announced on Sunday in New Delhi. The discussion on the 10 seats will continue. An understanding has not been reached on Nemom seat,” said Mullappally. Chennithala said Mullappally would stay back in New Delhi while Chandy would return on Sunday morning. “I can vouch that Nemom will not see a weak candidate. There is no confusion over finalising of the candidate list. Once it is officially released, you will all know what caused the delay,” said Chennithala. 

  • Famous character will contest from Nemom: Mullapally Ramachandran

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The inordinate wait on the Congress candidature checklist is constant unabated over stalemate on Nemom, Vattiyoorkavu and over two dozen seats. KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran has knowledgeable that among the best, a powerful contender, who has received public acceptance and a well-known character will contest from Nemom Assembly constituency. If the Screening Committee talks get extended, the Congress checklist on the 92 seats could be introduced solely on Saturday morning.

    The Congress checklist was initially anticipated to be introduced on Wednesday and with frequent postponements, the social gathering employees are feeling the warmth on the much-awaited candidate checklist. As per the traits put forth by Mullapally, there are solely two leaders who match the payments, Oommen Chandy and Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor.

    But hypothesis is rife that AICC organizing basic secretary KC Venugopal, Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan can also be being thought of from Nemom. The “A” group is peeved with the KPCC and AICC leaderships over giving undue prominence to Nemom seat when the BJP contender is Kummanam Rajasekharan who had tasted defeat thrice in numerous elections. On Friday, Mullapally knowledgeable that the AICC management is contemplating the Nemom contest very critically.

    “One of the best, a strong contender, one who has got public acceptance and a famous personality will contest from Nemom. If the Screening Committee talks doesn’t get over by tonight, then the Congress list is likely to be announced only on Saturday morning”, mentioned Mullapally.

    But reacting to Mullapally’s assertion, Oommen Chandy reiterated that he won’t go away Puthupally. He added that he’ll contest solely from his sitting seat of Puthupally from the place he had contested 11 instances.

    “If I am contesting from anywhere, it will be only from Puthupally. I had been contesting from Puthupally for five decades and I have not considered any other constituency so far. It is the media who is maintaining that big shots will be fielded”, mentioned Oommen Chandy.

    Now all eyes are on whether or not the Congress checklist will likely be introduced on Friday or whether or not it will likely be pushed to the following day. Until then the suspense on Nemom and Vattiyoorkavu will proceed.

  • Kerala Elections 2021: Congress candidate record out on Friday

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Contrary to the sooner announcement that the Congress candidate record shall be introduced on Thursday, it has but once more been pushed to Friday. The extra the delay, the expectations on the candidate record of the Congress are growing manifold.  KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran and Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala have stated that the candidate record within the 92 constituencies shall be launched after the assembly of central election committee which shall be held below the aegis of the Congress president in New Delhi on Friday night.

    While the LDF has already kicked off its election conventions, the delay on the a part of the Congress has despatched blended emotions amongst get together leaders again within the state. But the Congress camp exuded confidence that the record will get appreciation from the widespread individuals as they’ve earmarked 60 per cent of seats to youths, ladies and new faces who’ve ‘winnability.’

    But the ‘A’ group led by former chief minister Oommen Chandy is dissatisfied with the way in which their nominees like Okay C Joseph MLA, UDF convener M M Hassan, former MLAs Okay Babu, Palode Ravi and Varkala Kahar and Mahila Congress state president Lathika Subhash have been sidelined within the candidate record.

    “Oommen Chandy loyalist and KPCC vice-president T Siddique was initially considered for Kalpetta. But the Mananthavady Bishop has demanded to field a Roman Catholic candidate there. In the case of another blue-eyed boy of Oommen Chandy, KPCC vice-president P C Vishnunadh, his seat is also hanging in balance. It is true that his name was initially considered in five seats which has since been cut short,” a outstanding ‘A’ group chief instructed TNIE. 

    The ‘A’ group principally contains struggle horses with only a few younger leaders like Youth Congress state president Shafi Parambil, Siddique and Vishnunadh of their kitty. But the ‘I’ group led by Chennithala has extra variety of MLAs, youth leaders like Okay S Sabarinadhan, MLA, KPCC common secretaries Jyothikumar Chamakkala and Mathew Kuzhalnadan, KPCC secretary B R M Shafeer and lots of younger leaders.“Chennithala could cash in on the youth label as most of them are raw. But the majority of the youth leaders in the Oommen Chandy camp like Siddique and Vishnunadh have tasted defeat in the previous elections,” a KPCC office-bearer instructed TNIE. 

  • 4,055 polling cubicles recognized as delicate, 580 crucial: Police

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have recognized 4,055 polling cubicles within the state as delicate as Kerala is inching in direction of the Assembly polls. The variety of delicate cubicles has elevated within the state in comparison with the current native physique polls which noticed 1,850 cubicles tagged as delicate. As per the figures introduced by state police earlier than Deepak Mishra, Special Police Observer appointed by the Election Commission, on Wednesday, there have been 580 crucial cubicles within the state that require shut safety monitoring. Of these, 346 crucial cubicles fall in 213 Left Wing Extremism-affected (LWE) places.

    All these LWE-affected places fall in three northern districts – Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad. There was a rise within the variety of crucial cubicles in LWE-affected places as there have been round 315 such cubicles in the course of the Lok Sabha polls, police sources stated.

    As the variety of polling cubicles has elevated to greater than 40,000, the variety of safety personnel may even see a report improve. As per preliminary plans, near 50,000 cops will probably be deployed to offer safety in the course of the polls, which is a brand new excessive. Of them, 39,000 will probably be from the state police, whereas 10,400 will probably be from Central and different state forces.

    Mishra on Wednesday met the state police chief and different senior IPS officers to take inventory of the prevailing safety scenario within the state. A cop who attended the assembly stated the variety of delicate cubicles can go up within the coming days. “Till we fully know which all parties and persons are contesting polls, we cannot give the exact number of sensitive booths. We have just made a preliminary observation and presented it before Mishra. The exact number will be finalised later,” the officer stated. 

  • Congress’ Kerala mess: Chacko quits, Muraleedharan skulks, ballot talks head nowhere

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If one thought the Congress would have a clean crusing within the run-up to the meeting elections for a change this time after the spectacular Aishwarya Kerala Yatra and powerful intervention by AICC, candidate choice plunged into disaster on Wednesday.

    First, Ok Muraleedharan, MP, skulked for the second day from a breakfast assembly of Congress MPs with prime state leaders in New Delhi.

    Then by afternoon, four-time Lok Sabha member P C Chacko introduced his resignation from the occasion, citing groupism within the state unit and inefficient AICC management. 

    Despite these setbacks, the KPCC management expressed the hope that the talks, persevering with since Monday night, with the AICC’s candidate screening committee could possibly be accomplished by Thursday and move on the beneficial nominee listing to the central election committee headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. 

    The AICC management is learnt to have requested Ramesh Chennithala and Oommen Chandy whether or not they would take up the problem to contest from tough seats like Nemom, Vattiyoorkavu or  Kazhakoottam. 

    I can wrest Vattiyoorkavu from LDF, says Murali

    Following Chacko’s criticism towards rampant factionalism, the AICC management is just not prone to entertain the group leaders’ nominees at any value. Already, the chances are towards the candidature of Chandy nominee Ok C Joseph and Chennithala loyalist Joseph Vazhakkan.

    Muraleedharan instructed TNIE that he by no means received an invite from the KPCC management to the assembly.

    “One of their staff members informed my staff on Tuesday about the breakfast meeting. If they really wanted me to attend it, they would have called me directly. When AICC organising general secretary K C Venugopal bumped into me in Parliament, he invited me to meet them, including the screening committee chairman, at 5pm,” he stated.

    It is learnt that Muraleedharan was invited by Venugopal on the behest of Rahul Gandhi. At the night assembly, Muraleedharan as soon as once more raised the shortage of discussions taking place amongst senior leaders, within the KPCC election committee in addition to within the 10-member Chandy-headed election administration and strategic committee assembly.  

    Muraleedharan didn’t draw back from opening up his thoughts towards factionalism within the presence of group leaders Chandy and Chennithala,  and KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran and Venugopal. 

    He denied TV channel experiences that he had evinced eager curiosity in contesting from Nemom meeting constituency.

    He confided that if the AICC management actually desires him to return to state politics, he’ll struggle in Vattiyoorkavu.

    “I can wrest the seat back. But convincing my voters of Vadakara is going to be a hard task. If a candidate like Mullappally contests from Vadakara, the voters will help the Congress yet again,” he added.

  • Politics of silence that echoes in Vadakara

    Express News Service
    It was round 8am and 26-year-old Rahul Okay T Okay was busy providing coaching to his disciples on the kalari (martial artwork coaching centre) in Thacholi Manikoth temple at Vadakara. The place is thought within the annals of historical past because the abode of legendary Kalaripayattu warrior Thacholi Othenan, the hero of ‘vadakkan pattukal’ (ballads of north Malabar). The interval of wars and battles had lengthy gone, however one can nonetheless rapidly sense an timeless spirit of the folks of Vadakara questioning the authority and established norms. Amid vaaytharis (oral instructions) that emanate from round 80 kalaripayattu centres within the space, there’s a stoic silence which is the brand new politics of the frequent folks of Vadakara.

    “We don’t go around discussing politics in the open. But we have a strong stance and it will reflect in the elections,” says Rahul. Manikoth residents Pradeep P and Jayakumar N say although Vadakara is historically a Left bastion, primarily the CPM, it’s the impartial voters who play a decisive function within the polls. “Only two types of people openly express their political support. They will either be staunch CPM activists or BJP workers. The majority of neutral voters fear to reveal their political stance in the open,” says Pradeep. Jayakumar says it’s this political silence of impartial voters within the constituency that has given a shocker to the CPM in Lok Sabha polls when P Jayarajan misplaced to Okay Muraleedharan of the UDF. 

    Vijayaraghavan T, a resident of Manikoth NarayanaNagar and author of Thacholi Charitham | A Sanesh Even the phrases of 60-year-old Vijayaraghavan T, a resident of Manikoth Narayana Nagar and author of ‘Thacholi Charitham,’ reveal the issues of a CPM follower who just isn’t pleased with gold smuggling and backdoor appointment scams which have put the get together in dangerous mild.

     “Though the majority of the people do not openly discuss politics, they critically analyse the performance of political parties. It’s a fact that socialist candidates have been winning from Vadakara and it’s not because of the strength of such parties in the constituency but because of the strong base of the CPM which has been giving the seat to its LDF ally,” he provides. 

    At Onchiyam in Vadakara the place the RMPI has emerged as a powerful opposition to the CPM, residents are hesitant to brazenly focus on politics with outsiders. “We all have politics and will cast our votes accordingly. We are not ready to tell others about our political liking as it’s a risky affair. We don’t want to offend others and create enmity with others by openly revealing our likes and dislikes. We want to live peacefully without any trouble,” says 54-year-old Sathyanathan, a resident of Onchiyam. 

    Another resident Babu Gopalan, 64, additionally echoes an analogous concern however he hints at a rising acceptance of the RMPI as a substitute for the CPM. “What we see here is a rigorous electoral campaign undertaken by the IUML for the RMPI,” he provides.

  • CPM proclaims record of 83 candidates for Kerala polls, CM Pinarayi Vijayan to contest from Dharmadam

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Disregarding the voices of dissent inside the occasion, the ruling CPM on Wednesday introduced the record of candidates for the Assembly elections. Party state secretary-in-charge A Vijayaraghavan stated numerous winnable components pressured the occasion to stay to its stand and efforts will probably be taken to persuade the employees who’ve considerations over sure candidates.

    The occasion has introduced 83 of the full 85 seats the place its members or party-supported independents are contesting. Candidates for Manjeswaram, a seat the place the native occasion items raised opposition over the selection of KR Jayananda, and Devikulam will probably be introduced later. CITU chief P Nandakumar will contest from Ponnani avenue the place numerous occasion employees took to the streets opposing his candidature. Also, regardless of the opposition by the native items, occasion’s state management determined to present the Kuttyadi seat to its new ally Kerala Congress (M).

    Of the 83 candidates, 9 are party-backed independents together with incumbent larger schooling minister KT Jaleel at Thavanoor.

    Five incumbent ministers, together with Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Works Minister G Sudhakaran, should not within the fray. DYFI nationwide president and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas is the candidate for the Bepur seat.

    ALSO READ | Thomas Isaac, G Sudhakaran amongst CPM ministers to not contest once more

    There are twelve ladies candidates, together with incumbent minister KK Shailaja and J Mercykutty Amma. Shelna Nishad Ali, daughter-in-law of six-time Congress MLA Okay Mohammed Ali, will combat the Aluva seat for the LDF. 75-year-old chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the eldest within the record and 27-year-old SFI chief Sachin Dev is the youngest. Four of the candidates are under the age of 30 and 24 are above the age of 60. There are two PhD holders, two MBBS diploma holders, 14 post-graduates and 42 candidates, together with 22 legislation diploma holders.

    List of the candidates

    Thiruvananthapuram

    Parassala- CK HareendranNeyyattinkara- Okay AnsalanVattiyoorkavu- VK PrasanthKattakkada- IB SatheeshNemom- V SivankuttyKazhakkoottam- Kadakampally SurendranVarkala – V JoyVamanapuram- DK MuraliAttingal- OS AmbikaAruvikkara – G Stephen

    Kollam

    Kollam- M MukeshEravipuram- M NoushadChavara- Dr Sujith VijayanKundara- J Mercykutty AmmaKottarakkara- KN Balagopal

    Pathanamthitta

    Aranmula- Veena GeorgeKonni- KU Janeesh Kumar

    Alappuzha

    Chengannur- Saji CheriyanKayamkulam- U PrathibhaAmbalappuzha – H SalamAroor- Daleema JojoMavelikkara- MS Arun KumarAlappuzha- PP Chitharanjan

    Kottayam

    Ettumanoor- VN VasavanPuthuppally- Jaik C ThomasKottayam- Okay Anil Kumar

    Ernakulam

    Kochi- KJ MaxiVypeen- KN UnnikrishnanThrikkakkara- Dr J JacobThrippunithura- M SwarajKalamassery- P RajeevKothamangalam- Antony JohnKunnathunadu- PV SreenijanAluva – Shelna Nishad AliErnakulam- Shaji George

    Idukki

    Udumbanchola- MM ManiDevikulam- not introduced

    Thrissur

    Irinjalakkuda- R BinduVadakkancherry- Xaviour ChittilappillyManalur- Murali PerunellyChelakkara- Okay RadhakrishnanGuruvayoor- AkbarPuthukkad- KK RamachandranKunnamkulam- AC Moideen

    Palakkad

    Thrithala- MB RajeshTarur- PP SumodKongad- SanthakumariShoranur- P MummikuttiOttappalam- PremkumarMalampuzha- A PrabhakaranAlathur- KD PrasenanNenmara- Okay Babu

    Wayanad

    Mananthavady- OR KeluBatheri- MS Viswanathan

    Malappuram

    Thavanur- KT JaleelPonnani- P NandakumarNilambur- PV AnwarTanur- AbdurahimanPerinthalmanna- Muhammad MusthafaKondotty- Sulaiman HajiMankada- RasheedaliVengara- JijiVandoor- P Mithuna

    Kozhikode

    Perambra- TP RamakrishnanBalussery- Sachin DevKozhikode North- Thottathil RaveendranBepur- PA Mohammed RiyasThiruvambady- Linto JosephKoduvally- Karat RazackKunnamangalam- PTA RaheemKoyilandy- Kanathil Jameela

    Kannur

    Dharmadam- Pinarayi VijayanThalassery- AN ShamseerPayyannur- TI MadhusoodananKalliasseri- M VijinAzhikode- KV SumeshPervaoor- Zakeer HussainMattannur- KK ShailajaTaliparamba _ MV Govindan

    Kasaragod

    Uduma – CH KunhambuManjeswaram- not announcedThrikkaripur- M Rajagopal 

  • Kerala elections 2021: Chandrasekharan, 11 different MLAs in CPI’s first record

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Twelve CPI legislators — together with Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan and Deputy Speaker V Sasi — will search folks’s mandate once more. Becoming the primary main political celebration to announce candidates for the upcoming meeting elections, the CPI launched its first record of 21 candidates on Tuesday. Vaikom MLA C Okay Asha is the one girl amongst them.

    A call on the remaining 4 seats — Chadayamangalam, Haripad, Paravoor and Nattika — will likely be introduced in two days, stated celebration secretary Kanam Rajendran. Of these, Nattika and Chadayamangalam are the celebration’s sitting seats. Along with Geetha Gopi, a number of different names are additionally being thought of for Nattika. In Chadayamangalam, sitting MLA Mullakkara Ratnakaran will keep away as he has accomplished three phrases. Senior chief Pannian Raveendran options excessive on the precedence record for the seat.

    Kanam: Content with seat-sharing in LDF 

    Announcing the candidates, Kanam stated considerations over a scarcity of ladies candidates can be addressed as soon as the celebration comes up with the remaining 4 candidates. Okay P Suresh Raj and G R Anil, the district secretaries of Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram respectively will contest from Mannarkkad. He must step down from the celebration put up earlier than contesting.  While discontent is brewing inside the celebration over the CPM snubbing its long-time ally and giving the Changanassery seat to the KC (M), Kanam stated the celebration is content material with the seat-sharing within the Left entrance.

    While the CPI has been sad with the CPM giving over-prominence to the KC (M), Kanam indicated the KC (M)’s energy can be identified solely after the outcomes are out. He stated the celebration has no criticism relating to not getting sufficient seats in Kottayam. Briefing the state council selections, Kanam stated the CPI didn’t lose or should alternate any of its sitting seats due to the entry of latest allies.  “We are content material with the present seat association within the Left.

    In 2011, the celebration contested 27 seats. This time, we’re contesting in 25 seats as two seats went to new allies. Kanjirappally is the sitting seat of Kerala Congress (M) and Changanassery shouldn’t be a celebration seat,” he stated. Responding to repeated questions on the CPM giving 13 seats to the KC (M), Kanam remained non-committal. “Contesting from more seats doesn’t mean a party is powerful. Whether the Left front has made any gain with the entry of KC (M) will be known after the elections,” he stated.

  • INTERVIEW | For first time, Congress is displaying unity, says Chandy

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unique interview to TNIE, senior Congress chief Oommen Chandy criticises the CPM for its try at communal polarisation. He feels Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ought to take everybody into confidence. People have a proper to know what Pinarayi and the CPM need to say on the Customs affidavit linking him within the greenback smuggling case. While rejecting allegations that Congress leaders will go to the BJP if the get together fails, Chandy additionally raised apprehensions over the Enforcement Directorate motion towards KIIFB. Excerpts. 

    Q: Has UDF seat-sharing reached a impasse with PJ Joseph’s adamant stand? Will Congress too go for recent faces? A: Seat-sharing talks are within the closing stage. We began early and reached a normal understanding. It’s not Joseph’s stubbornness. They are able to make compromises. The delay has not occurred due to variations in opinion. Congress was the primary to subject younger candidates in 1970 when seven of us, together with A Okay Antony and myself, contested. New faces, youth and ladies will get 50 per cent seats.  

    Q: For the primary time, the Congress has no authorities on the Centre or the state. How essential are these elections for the very existence of the get together? A: Apart from that, BJP is placing up an enormous struggle too. We strategy the elections realising these points. For the primary time, the Congress is displaying unity. This has given the UDF and the Congress the impetus to return to energy.

    Q: Is there a hidden pact between BJP and CPM in order that the Left can retain energy and BJP improve its tally? A: Going by the developments, that can not be dominated out. The CPM agenda is to make sure a second time period and BJP needs to garner a couple of seats. Both wish to guarantee Congress’ defeat. But we’re assured individuals will rally behind Congress and we are going to emerge victorious. Instead of attempting to hoodwink individuals, we are going to tackle their points. Sabarimala was broadly mentioned in LS polls. We supported the devotees, and needed to guard customs and rituals. This has at all times been our strategy. We have by no means used Sabarimala for political benefit. The Left is making a slew of propaganda campaigns. You will need to have thought extremely of free kits. The UDF authorities had given free rice to BPL households. That too, not on the fag finish of the tenure. The Left is now taking dealing with fees from customers. 

    Q: There’s a normal feeling there will probably be an exodus of Congress leaders to BJP if the UDF doesn’t win. Even Okay Sudhakaran talked about it. A: Congress has by no means taken benefit of somebody’s weak spot or felt threatened. Congress doesn’t worry CPM or BJP. I don’t know below what context Sudhakaran stated that. Tell me, which chief went to BJP after the 2016 setback? Even when PM Modi has been ruling on the Centre with all energy and cash in addition to the central companies below him, the Congress in Kerala by no means misplaced a single day’s sleep.

    Q: Didn’t Rahul Gandhi elevate issues on Congress MLAs going to BJP?A: He highlighted BJP’s despicable methods. After the 1984 LS election, BJP had simply two MPs. Did Congress clamour for a ‘BJP Mukt Bharat?’ In Pondicherry, the BJP toppled the federal government and democratic values have been trampled upon. Officials in different states inform me they really feel the distinction between Congress and BJP. In a democratic setup, all have a proper to protest. Look on the farmers’ protest. The PM has by no means bothered to carry talks with protestors.

    Q: Do you assume the central companies are focusing on Pinarayi?A: It is Pinarayi who ought to reply to this. On the ED motion towards KIIFB, I’ve sure apprehensions. If the state authorities is correct within the KIIFB masala bond challenge, then I don’t endorse ED’s intervention. The LDF authorities ought to clarify that. We will stand by fact.

    Q: Pinarayi started his innings as CM after assembly you at your residence. How do you fee his 5 years on a scale of 10?A: People ought to fee him, not a former chief minister. When I used to be CM, somebody had requested me what number of marks I might give myself. I stated zero.

    Q: So are you giving zero to Pinarayi?A: Not in any respect. He ought to hearken to others and take them into confidence.

    Q: Has there been a deliberate transfer to brandish the communal card?A: The CPM unleashed the communal card, which is absolutely unlucky. They needed to appropriate their very own secretary in-charge. The Congress management had visited Panakkad quite a few instances and that is the primary time they made such an allegation. Why did that occur now? They needed to create communal polarisation.

    Q: Contrary to the same old follow of Opposition chief getting prominence, the main focus has shifted to you.A: That’s incorrect. The election coordination is being performed collectively. I’ve been attempting to convey everybody collectively and lead the election.