Kerala-CM Vijayan not in favor of joining hands with Congress
What's the story
As talks of an anti-BJP front for next Lok Sabha polls gain ground, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said he isn't in favor of joining hands with Congress to forge an opposition-alliance that should be aimed at giving people a real political-alternative.
Vijayan also said regional-parties are strong these days and synergy between them could be used to take-on ruling BJP in 2019 General Elections.
Undemocratic
BJP has been destroying country's democratic norms
Alleging that BJP is destroying India's democratic norms, Vijayan, who completes two years in office next May, said co-operation between regional parties was essential to "defeat those who must be defeated".
Remarks by the CPI-M veteran come against the backdrop of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and her Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekhar Rao kick-starting efforts to form a Federal Front with or without Congress.
Defeat
Main objective of CPI-M is to defeat BJP
The draft political resolution adopted at CPI-M's Central Committee meeting in Kolkata in January this year had ruled out any electoral alliance or understanding with the Congress.
But, the Committee had said that the main objective of the party is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and it will focus on "mobilizing" all secular democratic forces for that purpose.
Full support
CPI-M would support the strongest candidates, who can defeat BJP
Interestingly, on March 30, the CPI-M announced that it would support the "strongest candidates" who would be in a position to defeat the BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls in Karnataka.
Continuing his scathing attack on BJP-led NDA government, Vijayan said secular minds are disturbed by the happenings around the country which would lead to a movement sweeping away the right-wing government from power.
Agitation
Everyone in the country is protesting: Vijayan
Vijayan, who was in Delhi to attend the CPI-M's Central Committee meeting said, there is a new uprising in the country.
"Traders and farmers are protesting. The cultural scene in the country is already in trouble. The youth and the campuses across the country are on streets protesting for their democratic rights. There is a need for a real (political) alternative," Vijayan added.
Constitutional Bodies
Even Constitutional bodies became puppet of the ruling government: Vijayan
The Chief Minister also said it was saddening that certain Constitutional bodies have been acting as a puppet in the hands of the government, remarks seen as an attack against the Election Commission of India.
The poll body faced criticism over its controversial decision to delay the declaration of the Gujarat Assembly polls last year until the last rally of PM Narendra Modi.
Priority
Focus on bringing a change in the country: Vijayan
"What we have to focus on now is how is to effect a change in the country. When we are able to show some difference, it brings an overall change," the Kerala Chief Minister said.
"It may not give us any political advantage but we could bring some change by helping to defeat those who must be defeated," Vijayan added.
Votes
Since 1983, BJP never polled more-than 2% votes in Tripura
Vijayan, while talking about the recent assembly polls in Tripura where the longstanding bastion of the Left Front collapsed in the saffron wave, said it was the Congress party which lost its base there.
In the state Assembly elections since 1983, the BJP had never polled more than 2% votes in Tripura, except in 1998 when it polled 5.875% votes.
Tripura elections
10 MLAs of Congress joined BJP in Tripura elections
In Tripura elections, Vijayan alleged the 10 MLAs that the Congress had there now belong to the BJP.
He also pointed out that 36 of the BJP candidates fielded in the Tripura election were with the Congress party last time and the grand old party could garner only 1.5% of the vote, when compared to the 36% it got last time.
Quote
SP and Congress contested together in UP elections last year
"If we look at Uttar Pradesh assembly election last year, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress contested together. SP had considerable influence there but that was not visible in the election. At the same time Congress lost its deposit at many places," Vijayan said.