Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, suggesting that both parties are gripped by fear over the impending Lok Sabha election verdict in the state.
Vijayan alleged that the BJP-led central government has been discriminatory in its financial allocations to Kerala, exacerbating the state's financial challenges.
"Both UDF and BJP are afraid of the election verdict. The Central government is the cause of the financial crisis. Both parties want to hide this. Kerala does not feature among the states with higher borrowing rates," Vijayan asserted during a media interaction.
Highlighting the contrasting stances of political parties on critical issues, Vijayan pointed out that while the CPI (M) manifesto promises to repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the Congress manifesto remains conspicuously silent on the matter.
The notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, by the Central government on March 11 stirred controversy, especially given the proximity to the announcement of Lok Sabha poll schedules.
The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, has been a subject of heated debate. The act amends the Citizenship Act, 1955, granting eligibility for citizenship to individuals belonging to specific religious communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
Kerala, a state that sends 20 parliamentarians to the Lok Sabha, is gearing up for voting on April 26. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are scheduled in seven phases, commencing on April 19, with the counting of votes slated for June 4.
Vijayan's remarks underscore the intense political climate prevailing in Kerala ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls. The contrasting positions of political parties on significant issues like the CAA continue to shape the electoral discourse, amplifying the stakes for all stakeholders involved.
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