New Delhi: BJP national secretary Anil Antony has alleged that the Congress and the CPI(M), despite being allies at the national level and in several states, are engaged in a “fake political contest” aimed at misleading the people of Keralam. Addressing a press conference at the BJP national headquarters in New Delhi, he said both parties, partners in the INDIA bloc, are raising allegations about so-called “fake deals” only to create confusion among voters.
He criticised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal for repeatedly speaking about such issues, calling it a coordinated attempt to divert public attention. According to Antony, the Congress and CPI(M) remain united during Lok Sabha elections, Assembly polls in different states, and even in upcoming electoral contests, while projecting themselves as rivals in Kerala. This, he argued, is a deliberate strategy to deceive the electorate.
A turning point for Kerala politics
Antony said the upcoming election would be a decisive moment for Kerala’s political future. He claimed that recent Lok Sabha and local body election results indicate that the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has governed Keralam for nearly a decade, may not be able to retain power. He attributed this to issues such as corruption, administrative mismanagement, backdoor appointments, political violence, and a perceived lack of development.
He further asserted that Kerala’s long-standing pattern of alternating power between the LDF and the United Democratic Front (UDF) is likely to change. Positioning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a credible alternative, Antony said the party has fielded strong candidates across the state, from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram.
While other political parties remain focused on controversies, Antony emphasised that the BJP, under the leadership of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, is prioritising development-oriented politics. He reiterated the party’s belief that only a “double-engine government”, with the BJP in power both at the Centre and in the state, can accelerate Kerala’s growth.
Antony also criticised Congress-ruled states such as Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh, alleging that they are facing severe financial distress. He claimed that in Himachal Pradesh, the government is struggling even to pay salaries to its employees. Highlighting the BJP’s growing presence in Kerala, Antony noted that the party currently has one Member of Parliament, along with a mayor and deputy mayor, and is in power in two municipalities and several panchayats. He expressed confidence that the BJP would emerge as a decisive political force in the state after the upcoming elections, with a target of winning at least 30 seats.
Referring to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Antony said India is on track to become the world’s largest economic power, and Kerala must align itself with this broader national growth trajectory. He reiterated that a BJP-led “double-engine government” would ensure the state’s development. Responding to a question, Antony added that Christians are also part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), underscoring the coalition’s inclusive political outreach.
