Projecting a “clean sweep” for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala, former Union Minister for Defence and veteran Congress leader A.K. Antony said “the politically-neutral” public of the State as well as a good number of leftists do not want a third term for a government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
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Addressing a press conference at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters in the State capital on Tuesday, Mr. Antony also said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “is not suited for the soil of Kerala, known for its communal amity.”
“Ten years ago, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) as well as Mr. Vijayan came to power with a popular mandate. Now, people are wishing for the end of their rule. My old friend Vijayan has turned into an invisible Chief Minister who is unreachable for the general public and is visible to them only through PR campaigns. He holds contempt towards any criticism. The LDF’s campaign slogan of a third Pinarayi government is enough to ensure a resounding win for the UDF in the elections. Democratic Kerala does not have the strength to bear such a third term,” said Mr. Antony.
He alleged that the State’s development has stunted over the past decade with youth migrating in large numbers to “greener pastures.”
“If this situation persists, Kerala will turn into an old age home in no time. Large number of migrant workers will be required to take care of them. The State will then cease to be a place where the majority speaks Malayalam,” he said.
He claimed that even people who traditionally voted for the Left do not want the LDF government to continue, “evident” from the comments made by writers and cultural activists in recent months.
‘No true communists left in LDF’
“There are no true communists left in the LDF. If this state of affairs continues, the Left will face a situation similar to that in West Bengal. I don’t want the destruction of the Left. If the Left has to survive, Mr. Vijayan’s rule has to come to an end. A few years in the Opposition will bring about some purification, which will keep them relevant,” he said.
Mr. Antony also reiterated claims made by other Congress leaders on a supposed “deal” between the BJP and the CPI(M).
“The Prime Minister and other BJP leaders have decided that the UDF should not come back to power. To ensure that, they will even support the Marxists, if required. It is certainly not one-way traffic, but these tactics will not succeed this time,” he said.