CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran says LDF expansion is not on agenda

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran on Saturday said the expansion of LDF was not on the agenda at the moment. He said the LDF had neither invited the Kerala Congress nor received any application to join the LDF. "We will react once we get the application," he said in a lighter vein at a press conference here on Saturday. He ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the BDJS, an NDA partner. "The LDF came to power defeating the politics of parties like BDJS, and there is no need to invite them at this stage," he added. The CPI leader said the LDF was moving forward in a united manner and gaining strength by the day.

On the question of bringing Congress onboard an anti-BJP front, the CPI leader said his party believed all democratic and secular forces should stand together in the fight against communal and divisive forces. "There is no need to keep the Congress out of such a broader front. However, it should not be a political alliance," he said. He said clarity on the issue would emerge after the party congresses of the CPI and CPM.

On the Vengara by-poll, he asserted that the LDF would improve its position. When asked about the delay in taking action against transport minister Thomas Chandy, he said the detailed probe on alleged reclamation of lake and land was currently on. “As of now, the government has only received the preliminary report. It will examine the final report and take action if required," he added. Kanam slammed BJP yatra for insulting the state. The CPI leader reminded that Amit Shah, who was banned from entering his own state, is trying to preach democratic values to others.