Vijayan Attacks Gandhi as BJP 'B-team' in Kerala Poll Fray
Vijayan Attacks Gandhi as BJP 'B-team' in Kerala Poll Fray
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan accuses Rahul Gandhi of aiding BJP to power in multiple states and slams Congress for destabilising opposition unity ahead of the Assembly polls.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched a sharp defense of his government and a pointed critique of Rahul Gandhi as the state gears up for the Assembly elections. Vijayan described Gandhi as a national leader whose understanding of local issues is limited, saying he cannot match up to Kerala's own party leaders in grasping the state’s realities. He charged that Gandhi’s stance and statements have helped the BJP by weakening the opposition’s unity in several states, including Bihar, Delhi and Rajasthan.\n\nThe Chief Minister tied these broad criticisms to recent political developments, including the central agencies’ actions toward opposition figures. He argued that Gandhi’s perspective was shaped by a pattern of selective accountability and claimed that the Congress has repeatedly aligned with the BJP in ways that undermine opposition collaboration. Vijayan also pointed to Delhi’s former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, noting the Delhi liquor policy case and its acquittal as a “tight slap” to Gandhi and the Congress, which he said lent support to what he called the BJP’s “ulterior moves.” The central agencies, he claimed, are being used to target opposition leaders, a tactic he described as part of a broader attempt to tilt political power.\n\nVijayan intensified his critique by accusing the Congress of paving the way for the BJP to gain power in Rajasthan and of creating instability within the opposition in Bihar. He argued that such moves undermine the unity of those opposing the BJP, particularly in states where the grand alliance would be crucial for a credible challenge. He warned that these patterns threaten the credibility of the opposition and could influence voters as campaigns heat up.\n\nIn response, Rahul Gandhi has framed the Kerala contest as a direct face-off between the UDF and a colluding BJP-LDF alliance, arguing that neither side has delivered on job creation and accusing both of divisive politics and corruption. The remarks come as the UDF tries to present itself as a unifying alternative in the state.
