Thiruvananthapuram: With the Assembly elections around the corner, the political leaders in Kerala are all active and visibly out in the public, speaking at public meetings and press meets in different centres across the State. The words spilt by certain politicians have also been decisive of the victory in elections in Kerala.
A highly casteist, derogatory remark against the State Chief Minister by Congress leader K Sudhakaran, referring to Pinarayi Vijayan as the ‘toddy tapper’s son’ has already drawn much flak. Congress leader MLA Shanimol Usman has publicly expressed her objection to such a remark, putting the Congress party in the defensive.
As Sudhakaran’s caste slur at the CM was criticised by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, and Congress senior leader Tariq Anwar, Sudhakaran has lost his grounds. The Congress Disciplinary Committee is to look into the matter, said Tariq Anwar.
On Thursday, the state secretary of Communist Party Marxist (CPM), A Vijayaraghavan, in a press meet here, said, Sudhakaran’s statement against the CM is highly malicious and he does not seem to be in senses. The CPM also responded to the issue of women entry to Sabarimala which was being raked up by the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the last few days as their poll plank against the Left. Vijaraghavan said the Congress stand on Sabarimala women entry is a bluff to deceive the people. Formulating legislation pertaining to a case that is being considered by the Apex Court is not possible.
DYFI workers reacted that Sudhakaran’s remark is proof to the sangh parivar mentality of the Congressmen. In response to the queries on the seat allocation for Assembly elections, Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Kanam Rajendran said, the CPI is yet to begin discussions on seat allocation. He said rumours that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is leaving the Left Democratic Front (LDF) are only fabricated by the media.
A major happening on election run-up events today is the change in tenet by P C George, Poonjar MLA and Janapaksham leader. George who had been stating that his party would stand by the UDF in the elections until yesterday changed his stand overnight.
George, in his latest stand, said that he is going to contest without allying with any of the three fronts. He also said that the LDF will win and continue to govern for another term in Kerala and expressed hope that the would win from Poonjar.