Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Congress-led
UDF has alleged that absence of BJP candidate against Chief
Minister VS Achuthanandan in Malampuzha is part of a
clandestine understanding between CPI(M) and BJP as they are
now together in opposing the UPA at the Centre.
The BJP has however refuted the charge holding that
Malampuzha seat has been allotted to its NDA ally JD(U), which
has put up a nominee.
Congress leader and UDF`s chief ministerial probable Oommen
Chandy Sunday said BJP`s decision not to field a party nominee
in the segment reflected the co-operation between CPI-M and
the saffron party at the national level where they are on the
same side in opposing the UPA at the Centre.
There was every reason to suspect it was on the strength of
this co-operation that BJP asserted from the start that it
would open its account in Kerala this time at any cost, he said.
Congress also said BJP`s explanation of generously
earmarking the seat for its ally was quite illogical as JD(U) is
an `insignificant` political entity in Kerala by any
reckoning.
The party also said this was for the first time that BJP
was going without a contestant in Malampuzha since the 1990s
as it had some strong pockets of influence there.
BJP candidate CK Padmanabhan collected over 9,000 votes
from that segment alone when he contested the last Lok Sabha
polls from Palakkad, under which Malampuzha falls. In the 2010
civic polls, BJP had picked up a few wards in some panchayats
in Malampuzha, while it bit the dust in most other parts of
the district.
Citing these figures, Congress leaders contended it would
be difficult to digest the BJP`s argument that the seat was
allotted to its minor partner without any rhyme or reason.
"It is mysterious that the BJP has skipped Malampuzha while
it has put up its contestants even in those segments where the
party does not have a semblance of presence," Chandy said.
The Congress leader also dared the CPI(M) to come clean on
the issue.
PTI
