THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the eve of Chengannur by-poll on Sunday, Congress leader A. K. Antony unleashed a scathing attack on the CPM. He said during the fag end of the campaigning at Chengannur, CPM played the communal card against D. Vijayakumar. He said the CPM decided to play the communal card against a staunch devotee of Lord Ayyappan and a popular leader because they realised they were going to lose.
He said the BJP's efforts by bringing central leaders and Union ministers, are never going to pay, and they are going to be a distant third. “The vote share of the BJP will go down. I am confident that the enlightened voters would cast their franchise above caste and religious lines. They will vote on the development plank,” he told reporters here. Earlier, while inaugurating the 54th commemoration programme of Jawaharlal Nehru’s 54th death anniversary at Indira Bhavan, Mr Antony reiterated the need for unity among secular forces against Modi administration's anti-people policies.
“Narendra Modi’s governance should be brought to an end as they are spreading communal polarisation in the country. The country’s peace has been compromised. Only the Congress can unite secular forces,” he said. He also said that the recommendations by the NITI Aayog are without considering the welfare of the common man. KPCC president M. M. Hassan said that Jawaharlal Nehru was a leader who laid a strong foundation for the Indian democracy, whereas Modi Mr has no faith in democracy and is trying to become an autocrat. He said Mr Modi had destroyed the Five-Year Plan.
