'Enemies in Kerala, BFF outside': PM Modi takes dig at Congress-Left ties

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at the dichotomy of Congress-Left alliance and said "In Kerala, they are each other's enemies but outside Kerala, they are BFFs, which means Best Friends Forever." The Congress and the Left are part of anti-BJP bloc INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), however, in Kerala they are political rivals. While Congress is part of United Democratic Front (UDF), the Left parties are united under Left Democratic Front.

Addressing a rally in Kerala, Prime Minister Modi also took a swipe at the current faceoff between the Left and Congress over candidate for Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by Rahul Gandhi. "The Left and the Congress accuse each other of corruption. The Left parties now want the Congress Yuvraj to leave Wayanad," PM Modi said.

PM said Congress accused Communist chief minister (Pinarayi Vijayan) of being involved in corruption and scams and termed the Left government as fascist. "The Communists in response, lathi-charged Congress workers and termed their previous administrations as being involved in various scams. However, outside Kerala, at the INDI alliance meetings, they sit together, eat samosas and biscuits, and have tea," the PM said, pointing out the incongruity. "So in Thiruvananthapuram they say one thing and in Delhi they say something else. The people of Kerala will answer this betrayal in the coming LS polls," he said.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced senior party leader Annie Raja, who has played a key role in 'Mahila Andholan', as a candidate for Wayanad. The Left Front has challenged Rahul's claim on Wayanad and wants the Congress to leave the seat for the CPI in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

CPM leader Brinda Karat said "Annie Raja is LDF candidate. Rahul Gandhi and Congress need to think, they say that their fight is against BJP. In Kerala, if you come and fight against Left, what message are you giving? So they need to think about their seat once again."

This even as the Kerala Congress leaders have requested Rahul to contest from Wayanad again. Kerala Congress leader VD Satheesan said, "We have requested Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad in Lok Sabha polls. Both KPCC and Kerala UDF want this. We will start a discussion on seats tomorrow."

In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi managed a comprehensive victory from Wayanad polling nearly 65% of votes. He defeated CPI's PP Suneer by over 4 lakh 30,000 votes.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and CPM secretary Binoy Viswam questioned the political logic of Rahul Gandhi contesting from Kerala.

"North India is considered the hotbed of India from where the maximum number of MPs have come to the Parliament, where BJP is a powerful force to fight. Forgetting that reality, what is the political logic for the Congress to come to southmost India, to Kerala, where there are just 20 seats? It is known to everybody that no one from the BJP will be able to win from Kerala. From where should he fight exactly? The essence of the earlier battle of 2019 is there when Rahul Gandhi did the same thing when he came to Wayanad from Amethi. BJP started a campaign which got the cash. They said Rahul Gandhi was afraid of the BJP that's why he ran to Kerala. This campaign resulted in the defeat of Congress in the entire North India," the CPM leader said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword. Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes, messages, and quotes.