Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is campaigning for Nilambur LDF candidate M Swaraj, attacked the opposition saying that for votes, the UDF is willing to ally with anyone.
“The Congress is trying to increase its vote share by joining hands with those who have been ostracised by society,” the Chief Minister said while speaking at an LDF election campaign event held in Moothhedath, Nilambur. “The nature of Jamaat-e-Islami has already been made clear in the past. Now, the Congress leadership is trying to repackage Jamaat-e-Islami with a new image,” he added.
CM added that the Nilambur by-election has brought great disappointment to the UDF. He added that the growing public acceptance of LDF candidate M Swaraj is clearly making the opposition anxious. Meanwhile, opposition leader VD Satheesan, who is also there in Nilambur said that in Nilambur, the CPI(M) is openly playing the communal card. “Is the Chief Minister ready to seek votes by highlighting his government’s achievements?” Satheesan challenged.
The opposition leader demanded that the Chief Minister and the CPI(M) should refrain from trying to shift the election narrative through communal rhetoric. “Those who embrace the Hindu Mahasabha and PDP have no right to lecture the UDF on secularism,” Satheesan said. He also claimed that UDF unanimously took the decision to accept the support from the Welfare Party, a political party floated by Jamaat-e-Islami.
Satheesan earlier had commented that Jamaat-e-Islami Hind had moved away from advocating a theocratic state. Notably, the Muslim League leadership was cautious not to make any stance that appeared to be supportive of Jamaat-e-Islami. League stalwart P.K. Kunjalikutty said UDF has talked with the Welfare Party, and that if a party offers support on its own, it is only their matter. However, according to Satheeshan, there is no difference of opinion within the UDF.
“In the 2021 Assembly elections, when the Welfare Party supported the LDF in the Nilambur seat, the Chief Minister had no objections,” Satheesan said. “A party and its leader changing colours is like a chameleon changing its shade. When the Hindu Mahasabha stands with the CPI(M), does that make them secular? For three decades, Jamaat-e-Islami’s support was with the CPI(M). No one raised questions when Pinarayi and Kodiyeri visited their office. And yet now, the narrative has changed," he added.
