Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday said the real fight in some constituencies in the state for May 16 polls is between Congress-led UDF and BJP candidates.
In constituencies like Manjeswarm and Kasargod, where BJP is strong, the fight is between UDF and BJP and CPI-M-led LDF will finish third in these segments, he told an election meeting in Kuttanad in Alappuzha district.
Reacting to Chandy's remark, CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said it was part of Chandy's secret tie-up with RSS to allow BJP's entry into the assembly.
He alleged Chandy had entered into an "understanding with RSS and that is why he is projecting BJP as a force."
Countering this, BJP State President Kummanom Rajasekharan said Chandy's remark showed BJP's strength in the state has been recognised.
Chandy also said refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that those parties which were in power in Kerala for the last 60 years had looted the state, saying a surge was witnessed in development projects under the UDF rule in the last five years and referred to Vizhinjam port and Kochi Metro Rail Project.
"Only to open an account in the assembly polls in Kerala, Modi has come out with such a blatant lie", Chandy said in his facebook post.
People would not allow the BJP to open its account as secularism and its values were "lifeline" for them, he said.
"Development agenda of BJP is only a mask to cover up their real agenda - communal poison", he alleged, adding, the party wanted to create misunderstanding between communities and make gains.
KPCC president VM Sudheeran said BJP cannot make any surge in the state. "They are trying to make inroads, but their efforts will not succeed", he said.
CWC member AK Antony said BJP's call for a third force in the state was the "beginning of danger" in the state. Congress is the only party that can challenge BJP at the national level, he told a press meet in Thrissur.
Antony also came down on the LDF and wanted the Front to come out with its clear stand on liquor policy.
"Our policy is very clear. No closed bars would be opened. Availability of liquor would be reduced with an aim to have total prohibition in 10 years time", he said adding this is mentioned in UDF's manifesto.
But, LDF manifesto was no specific about their liquor policy. LDF should declare whether they would re-open the closed foreign liquor bars or not, Antony said.
