PM Modi , Priyanka Gandhi woo voters in Kerala

Stating that the leaders of the United Democratic Front and the Left Democratic Front in Kerala are like goondas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, though there may be political differences in a democracy, violence is not acceptable.

Thiruvananthapuram: With just six days left for the Assembly polls in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi were in the State leading the campaigns for their parties. In Kerala, Priyanka and Modi took out roadshows and rallies with mass participation like in North India. Both of them lashed out at the ruling LDF Government in the State and strongly criticised the Pinarayi Government.

Narendra Modi, who participated in a public rally at Palakkad, made a scathing attack at the UDF and the LDF in Kerala. Stating that the leaders of the UDF and the LDF in Kerala are like goondas, Modi said, though there may be political differences in a democracy, violence is not acceptable. The Prime Minister sought the people of Kerala to vote for the BJP for a government that can ensure peace and prosperity.

Priyanka Gandhi joined a public convention at Kollam and a roadshow at Kayamkulam on Tuesday. Priyanka said the CPM has the same voice as that of the BJP in topics including ‘love jihad’. While the Congress sees people as gold, the Chief Minister of Kerala likes the foreign gold more, said Priyanka, mocking the CM. She also pointed at the allegations around the EMCC deal. Priyanka, who listed out the promises made by the UDF in the election manifesto, elaborated on the point of women’s safety. She said the UDF assures the people of Kerala on effecting the Congress’s NYAY scheme in Kerala also.

Meanwhile, the High Court is to give a verdict on Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala’s plea seeking to freeze bogus votes. When the petition was considered by the Court on Tuesday, the Chief Election Officer had informed the Court that the necessary actions to prevent bogus votes has been taken by the Election Commission.

The Election Commission repudiated Chennithala’s claim that there are 4.34 lakh bogus voters in the State. The Commission stated in the Court that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been entrusted and engaged to find the 38,586 voters who have more than one entries in the voters’ list in the State.

The Congress had also moved the High Court seeking to ensure the safety of the postal ballots. The plea demands that the postal ballots allowed for the senior citizens and those engaged in the emergency services must be secured like the usual ballots after recording the votes in them.

Presently, postal ballots are being kept by the returning officers themselves in their custody. The Congress petition states that this way of keeping the postal ballots could lead to irregularities and fraudulence.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that there could be ‘big lie bombs’ hurled at the ruling Government in Kerala in the next five days while addressing an election campaign in Kasaragod. The BJP and the Opposition have been keen on their 'lie' propagandas to turn the people against the Government. Our State is ready to face any kind of 'lie bombs', the CM said.

Pinarayi Vijayan also said that in Kerala, the current political atmosphere is such that the parties and alliances other than the Left Front seem to have aligned together. Meanwhile, objections to the remarks made by former Idukki MP and LDF leader Joyce Joseph against Rahul Gandhi have been a discussion in the State on Tuesday. Former MP Joyce Joseph made a derogatory remark against Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with the girls at the St Teresa’s College in Ernakulam.

Joyce had said that Rahul visits only Women’s colleges. Referring to the Aikido lessons Rahul had imparted on request by a student, Joyce said, “the girls should be careful while dealing with Rahul and should not bend down in front of him” and reminded that Rahul is a bachelor. Ramesh Chennithala had demanded that Joyce George must be arrested, while KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had demanded that Joyce must apologise publicly.

Later on Tuesday, Joyce while addressing a public meeting in Idukki, withdrew his ‘inappropriate remarks’ and expressed regret over the incident. In response to Joyce’s remark, CM Pinarayi Vijayan, distancing himself from the comments, said that the LDF’s stand is not to personally attack Rahul Gandhi but to politically oppose him.