Congress Questions CM Pinarayi Vijayan Over JD(S) Leader’s Inclusion in NDA Government
News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/17th June 2024
On Saturday, the Congress party targeted Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, questioning the circumstances under which JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy remains part of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala while serving as a minister in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
HD Kumaraswamy recently took oath as the Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister. His party, JD(S), joined the NDA in September of the previous year. Since then, CM Vijayan and the ruling CPI(M) have remained silent on the issue, drawing criticism from the Congress.
In a sharp statement, opposition leader VD Satheesan accused Vijayan of double standards, allowing the state unit of the JD(S) to continue in the Left front despite its alliance with the BJP at the national level. He alleged that Kumaraswamy’s ministerial position was obtained with the “silent permission” of the Marxist party.
Satheesan went further, accusing the CPI(M) of providing “political protection” to the JD(S). He suggested that both the Marxist party and CM Vijayan were constrained by ongoing investigations by Central agencies, which loomed over them like the sword of Damocles. He reiterated his claim that a coalition of the LDF and NDA was effectively ruling Kerala.
The opposition leader called on the CM and the leadership of the CPI(M) at both the state and national levels to clarify the circumstances under which the JD(S) continues to be part of the LDF.
The Kerala unit of the JD(S), an ally of the ruling Left in the state, had already rejected the national leadership’s decision to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last year. They argued that this move contradicted the political resolution adopted by the party’s national plenum.
Satheesan’s criticism highlights the tension and contradictions within Kerala’s political landscape, where alliances at the state and national levels can differ sharply. The Congress’s demands for clarity on the matter underscore the political complexities and potential conflicts of interest that arise from such divergent alliances.
The situation places CM Vijayan and the CPI(M) in a delicate position. While maintaining a united front in Kerala, they must also navigate the implications of their ally’s national alignment with the BJP, a party that is fundamentally opposed to their own political ideology.
As the political landscape evolves, the relationship between the JD(S) and the LDF will be closely watched. Any shifts could have significant implications for the balance of power in Kerala. The Congress’s scrutiny ensures that this issue remains in the public eye, adding pressure on the ruling coalition to address these questions transparently.
In the broader context of Indian politics, such situations are not uncommon, where regional parties align differently at the state and national levels. However, the Congress’s pointed criticism reflects its strategic effort to expose and exploit these contradictions, aiming to weaken the ruling coalition’s credibility.
Ultimately, the resolution of this issue will depend on how CM Vijayan and the CPI(M) respond to the Congress’s demands for transparency. Their ability to navigate this political challenge will be crucial in maintaining their standing in Kerala’s complex and often turbulent political environment.
