Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said only the Left could oppose the communal forces in the country.
Mr. Vijayan was inaugurating the LDF campaign for the Chengannur Assembly byelection on Tuesday.
“There is a need to oppose communal forces and globalisation. The Congress has failed to take on the RSS as its leaders and workers are joining the BJP in large numbers. The most important thing is to strengthen the Left Democratic Front and secular forces as only it can fight the communal forces,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Vijayan said the RSS had an agenda to annihilate Muslims, Christians, and communists. “Its agenda is to wipe out all those opposing it. The RSS is unleashing violence in the BJP-ruled States. Both Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are facing large-scale violence. The RSS sees the Dalits as Shudras,” Mr. Vijayan said.
He said the decision not to take up no-confidence motion against the NDA government in Parliament was a challenge to democracy.
“The NDA is on a free fall. Constituents are leaving the alliance. The BJP had lost bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and other States. People have lost faith in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre,” Mr. Vijayan said.
Lashing out at the Congress, Mr. Vijayan said that wrong policies of the grand old party had aided the BJP in the country. “The BJP has got an MLA in Kerala with the help of the Congress,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Vijayan urged the people to vote for continuity and development in Chengannur. “The State is moving on an unprecedented path of development. Kerala has the best law and order situation in the country. The LDF government has also taken stringent steps against corruption,” he said.
CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran, CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, LDF candidate Saji Cherian, LDF leaders M.P. Veerendrakumar, R. Balakrishna Pillai, C.K. Nanu, Kadannappally Ramachandran, and others attended the function.
Change of stance
Three-time Congress MLA from Chengannur Shobana George has switched sides. Ms. George attended the LDF election convention. She said she would campaign for the LDF candidate in Chengannur. Earlier, CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Mr. Cherian met her and sought support.
