Congress in Kerala hits back at CPI-M over BJP ties

 Thiruvanthapuram, September 24: The Congress on Thursday accused the CPI-M of forging political ties with the BJP on numerous occasions in the past, adding that the communist party was making baseless statements against it as a cover-up. In a statement issued here, state Congress chief V.M. Sudheeran said it was always the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that forged political tie-ups with the Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) in the past. “Way back in 1977, during the general elections in the state, the CPI-M entered into a tie-up with the then Ja Sangh. The CPI-M even campaigned for K.G. Marar, a candidate of the Ja Sangh here. Later, the CPI-M along with the BJP propped up the V.P. Singh government at the Centre,” said Sudheeran.

Sudheeran’s statement comes after the CPI-M accused the Congress in the past of entering into a secret understanding with the BJP ahead of local body polls in Kerala. Giving another example, Sudheeran said when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister, the CPI-M joined hands with the BJP in the Rajya Sabha to defeat the Panchayati Raj-garpalika Bill. “During the UPA-I government’s rule, the CPI-M voted along with the BJP to try to oust it,” the Congress leader said. “Now, when a secular front is fighting the BJP in the Bihar elections, the CPI-M is putting up its own candidates, which will help the BJP since votes will be split. (IANS)