New Delhi: In a controversy highlighting yet another major rift within the opposition’s unity, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday urged the Congress to engage in introspection regarding why, state after state, its leaders are quitting the party to join the BJP.
The CPI(M) Politburo stated, “Congress leaders should introspect on why, in state after state, their leaders are leaving the party to join the BJP. It is a well-known fact that Assam’s current BJP Chief Minister held key portfolios in the previous Congress government. In Tripura, the entire Congress leadership defected to the BJP in 2018 to defeat the Left Front. Several ministers in the Central Government and MPs affiliated with the BJP were formerly prominent leaders of the Congress. The Congress has effectively become a feeder organization for the BJP.”
The Left party issued this response after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that a tacit understanding existed between the CPM and the BJP in Kerala.
Accusing the CPM and the BJP of forming an ‘unholy alliance’ in Kerala, Kharge remarked, “Voting for the CPM is tantamount to voting for the BJP. The BJP is actively trying to ensure a victory for the CPM in the Assembly elections.” Kharge made these comments on Wednesday while addressing a party election rally in Kozhikode.
The CPI(M) stated, “The Politburo of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the provocative statements made by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge targeting the Chief Minister of Kerala and the secular credentials of the CPI(M).”
The Left party further asserted that such rumors are being propagated by the Congress solely to secure cheap electoral gains in the Assembly elections. He further stated, “By targeting the CPI(M) instead of the BJP, Congress leaders are reneging on their claim to fight against communal and dictatorial forces. The people of Kerala will clearly see through this nefarious agenda.”
According to the CPI(M), not a single communal riot has occurred in Kerala during the ten-year tenure of the current LDF government, whereas the state’s most severe communal riot took place in Marad during the rule of the UDF government.
The party remarked, “Even in these elections, the Congress is forging alliances with radical minority forces. The nexus between the Congress, the League, and the BJP has been exposed in various elections, including the recently concluded local body polls in Kerala.”
The CPM asserted, “The CPI(M) has consistently opposed the misuse of central agencies against opposition leaders, whereas Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi is demanding the arrest of an opposition Chief Minister, citing the ED and other central agencies. It must not be forgotten that the Congress had similarly demanded the arrest of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This exposes their opportunistic attitude.”
While the CPI(M) and the Congress are rivals in the Kerala Assembly elections, both parties are contesting together against the BJP in the Assam elections.
