Thiruvananthapuram: Pre-poll surveys conducted by mainstream media houses in Kerala indicate that the Left Front has a greater edge over the opposition parties. On the other hand, the Opposition has rolled up the sleeves to intensify the pre-poll campaign against Pinarayi Vijayan.
Although not identifying with the Opposition, the Nair Service Society (NSS) is at the forefront in criticising Pinarayi Vijayan. "The NSS has no hostility towards anyone. But, when things are spoken openly, there is no point being piqued," a read a statement by the NSS leadership.
There has been no end to the allegations and counter-allegations raised by NSS and the LDF leaders towards each other over the past four days. Speaking to the media on Thursday, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran reiterated that LDF's stand on the demands raised by the NSS is in conjunction with the response of the chief minister to them. "The NSS can talk about anything as a social organisation," Kanam added
Recently Vijayan and Health Minister KK Shailaja had hit back at the NSS for its allegations against the government over issues including Sabarimala. Minister Shailaja has said that the NSS was directly interfering in politics.
The NSS had alleged that the Government did not approve of its stands on various matters including, Mannam Jayanthi, Sabarimala women entry and forward caste reservations. When the opposition parties chose to pick Sabarimala as a major poll plank yet again for the Assembly elections, the NDA’s election manifesto which was released on Wednesday is also full of promises on laws to protect Sabarimala.
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Meanwhile, the controversy around the LDF government’s deep-sea fishing trawlers contract has surfaced yet again. Chief Minister has dismissed allegations that the deal was signed with the knowledge of the CM’s office. Calling the allegations "part of a larger conspiracy," Pinarayi said CMO is being dragged into "anything and everything."
"There is nothing wrong with a person holding an official position contacting the CMO," the CM clarified.
Amidst all these, the Income Tax Department sleuths, on Thursday, raided the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the pride of the Pinarayi Government. The Enforcement Department's probe against the KIIFB was controversial earlier. Following the Enforcement Directorate, another Central agency - the Income Tax department - has also conducted a raid at the KIIFB. It is amid State Government’s allegations that the Centre has been trying to destroy KIIFB, that the new probe and raids are conducted at the KIIFB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
The solar panel scam was the major issue that had worked against the UDF Government in the last Assembly elections. While another Assembly election is around the corner, Crime Branch has released a report that there is no evidence found against former CM Oommen Chandy in the solar case.
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The report said that Oommen Chandy was not present at the Cliff House on the day the complainant said the incident happened. The report also said that the complainant had not reached the Cliff House on that day either.
It is also to be noted that the Crime Branch report has been released soon after the State government handed over the Solar case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Truth cannot be hidden. I have lived keeping all the doors open, said Oommen Chandy reacting to the Crime Branch report.
Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has moved the High Court in the recent allegations over bogus voters, which was affirmed by the Election Commission. As the final voters' list has been published, those who have more than one entry in the voters' list must be not be allowed to vote, Chennithala demanded.
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