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

Thiruvananthapuram: 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 VM Sudheeran said it was always the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that forged political tie-ups with the Bharatiya Janata 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 Jana Sangh. The CPI-M even campaigned for KG Marar, a candidate of the Jana Sangh here. Later, the CPI-M along with the BJP propped up the VP 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-Nagarpalika 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. These are clear examples that the CPI-M's only agenda is to fight the Congress. To hide its own actions, the CPI-M has come out with baseless accusations of a Congress-BJP tie-up in Kerala," Sudheeran said.