Preparations gain momentum ahead of Kerala Assembly elections

With assembly polls nearing in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan government is facing flak from the oppositions over backdoor appointments and the issue of the entry of women in Sabarimala.

Thiruvananthapuram: Ahead of the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by Congress and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has slammed the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over backdoor appointments and the issue of the entry of women in Sabarimala.

The UDF raked up allegations against CM Pinarayi Vijayan government’s backdoor appointments. For the past few days, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala is constantly targetting the state government over backdoor appointments. His latest accusation was made during the Aishwarya Kerala Yatra.

The youth organisations have been holding protests against the ‘backdoor entries’ at different centres across the state.

Chennithala said that after the UDF comes to power, LDF government’s back door appointments will all be reviewed.

"The UDF will introduce a bill to prevent backdoor appointments in the government sector and all appointments would be done only through the Public Service Commission," he said.

The issue of women’s entry at Sabarimala which was raked up by the UDF as a poll plank has moved a step further with the release of a ‘draft bill’ by the UDF against the violation of rituals at Sabarimala.

Read:|Kerala Elections: Polarisation between two minorities put UDF on the backfoot

However, Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary Kanam Rajendran clarified that the LDF has no apprehensions on the opposition raking up the Sabarimala issue.

Stating that the CPI is a party which holds believers close, Rajendran said that the philosophy of dialectical materialism is not irrelevant. He also responded to CPM leader M V Govindan’s opinion that dialectical materialism cannot be practised in India.

Launching a sharp attack on Congress for staying silent over the Sabarimala issue, BJP State President K Surendran stated that the opposition is behaving like a wolf in sheep’s skin.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor who has been told to prepare UDF’s election manifesto continues to tour and meet a cross-section of people at different levels. During the interactive session of ‘Talk to Shashi Tharoor’, UDF invited suggestions from youth to help in preparing people’s manifesto for UDF. Many youngsters participated in the session to share their views.

The Congress has decided to contest on more seats and avoid allowing many seats to the other UDF allies. Congress is attempting to win 50 seats and return to power in Kerala. It has decided not to fulfil of demands of Muslim League and Kerala Congress over seat allocation.

KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran expressed that more leaders would join the UDF.

"A decision will also be taken on the UDF entry of Janapakham leader PC George, after a discussion with the UDF allies. Pala MLA Mani C Kappan can decide on his UDF entry," Ramachandran said.

Amid all the poll preparations, the LDF is also finalising its candidates. As per sources, only Pinarayi Vijayan would contest from among the CPM Politburo members, this time.

Kanam Rajendran, CPI State Secretary had clarified that he will not be contesting in the elections.

Meanwhile, CPM State Secretary A Vijayaraghavan said that there is a conspiracy to nullify the possibility of the LDF being re-elected to the Kerala Assembly.

Read:|BJP gears up to turn the table in Kerala Assembly elections