Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in his Pulinkunnu speech in Kuttanad on Saturday had said that in places like Manjeshwaram and Kasaragod, where BJP is a formidable force, the fight is between UDF and BJP.
When it snowballed into a major controversy, Mr Chandy posted the full text and video of his speech on Facebook.
Mr Chandy had said that if one checks the poll results in some parts like Kasaragod and Manjeshwaram, it shows the fight is between UDF and BJP there.
“Marxist party will come a distant third after UDF and BJP. If CPM is trying to get friendly with BJP, the people of Kerala will not allow. CPM’s ploy to garner support from the minorities by unleashing false propaganda will also not work out in favour,” said Mr Chandy.
Mr Antony also denied suggestions that Mr Chandy had a soft approach towards the BJP and defended his statement that in some constituencies in Kerala the contest is between UDF and BJP.
Senior Congress leader A. K. Antony again reiterted at Ernakulam Press Club on Sunday that BJP posed a threat to the communal harmony in Kerala and insisted that the contest is between Congress-led UDF and the CPM-led LDF.
“I have stated a similar opinion. In places like Manjeswaram and Kasaragod, the main fight is between UDF and BJP. There is nothing wrong in saying that”, Mr Antony said.
He had at first said in Kasargod on Saturday that the unprecedented attention BJP gave to the State sounds danger. He had also said that in the land of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, communal forces should not be given a foothold.
“Secular voters should not split this time. The commotion created by Oppoition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan won't translate into votes for the LDF,” he said. In Ernakulam, he called for the unity of secular forces to counter the growth of BJP.
“Let the people of Kerala live in peace with the freedom to choose their food. Don’t try to convert Kerala into another Gujarat,” he said.
Mr Antony also stated that those opting for a soft approach to the BJP now due to NDA government at the Centre will be forced to regret in future.
Describing the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on development as hollow, he said such gimmicks can not deceive people of Kerala.
On the prospects of Congress and the UDF, he said the contest is quite close between the UDF and LDF in Kerala. The UDF has a slight edge over LDF and would come back to power.
Muslim League leader PK Kunhalikutty said in Wayanad late on Saturday night that in many constituencies the contest was between UDF and BJP.
He said LDF wass not in the picture in some constituencies including Kasargod and Manjeshwaram.
But contrary to what Chandy and Kunhalikutty's statements, KPCC President V M Sudheeran too had said on Saturday that the poll battle was between UDF and the LDF as the BJP would not be able to make any advances in the upcoming elections.
