Kerala, 27 March (H.S.):Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today strongly rejected allegations of any understanding between the CPM and the RSS, asserting that his party would never indulge in “political opportunism” for a handful of votes or seats.

Addressing a public gathering in Thrissur, Vijayan said the electorate was politically aware and capable of judging such claims. “Politics is not simple arithmetic where alliances can be formed merely by adding vote shares. People will evaluate and respond accordingly,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the Congress-led UDF, Vijayan referred to past political developments in constituencies like Vadakara and Beypore, alleging that attempts were made to combine anti-Left votes with tacit support from the BJP to defeat the Left. “There were plans to defeat us by consolidating votes, even to the extent of helping BJP candidates. But once such understandings became public, people rejected them, and the Left emerged victorious,” he claimed.

Responding to Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan’s allegations that Vijayan himself had benefited from RSS support in the past, the Chief Minister termed the claims “baseless and absurd.” He said his political life had consistently been marked by opposition to the RSS, particularly during his early years in Kannur, where he was allegedly a frequent target of attacks.

Vijayan also invoked historical instances to counter the allegations, claiming that the Congress had, at times, aligned with RSS-linked forces. He cited the defeat of former Chief Minister E. M. S. Namboodiripad in Pattambi and electoral contests involving leaders like A. K. Gopalan, where he alleged indirect cooperation between Congress and RSS elements.

Emphasising Kerala’s secular fabric, Vijayan warned against attempts to introduce communal divisions in the state. He criticised recent remarks by BJP leader B. Gopalakrishnan regarding religious representation in Guruvayur, calling them “divisive and dangerous.”

“Kerala has remained free of communal conflict for the past decade because of a firm stand against sectarian politics. Any attempt to disrupt this harmony will be dealt with strictly,” he said.

Reiterating his party’s ideological position, Vijayan said the Left would continue to uphold secular values and resist what he described as “false propaganda” aimed at misleading voters ahead of the elections.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman