Kerala assembly polls: Ramesh Chennithala rakes up SDPI-CPM deal

Kochi: Alleging a secret alliance between the two parties, former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that SDPI is supporting CPM candidates in multiple constituencies in the state. Addressing a ‘Meet The Leader' programme in Kochi on Sunday, Chennithala also alleged that there was a similar understanding between both the parties in the 2021 assembly polls. Chennithala said that there was transfer of votes, mainly from BJP to CPM, in around 60 constituencies in 2021. He alleged that CPM and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan are following the same strategy in 2026 as well. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and LDF are displaying ‘fake confidence' as they fear defeat in the assembly elections, Chennithala said. He added that UDF will win over 100 seats and form the govt in Kerala. Chennithala sought to step up his allegation of a Rs 700-crore corruption in the cooperative sector, saying that the govt was all set to award the contract to develop a uniform software solution for 4,415 primary agriculture cooperative credit society (PACS) branches in the state to Kannur-based Kerala Dinesh Beedi Workers' Central Cooperative Society Ltd which allegedly has no prior experience in IT. However, the sudden declaration of the elections foiled the move, Chennithala said. Chennithala said that he could sense from the ground that there is a strong anti-incumbency sentiment among the voters in the State. He accused the govt of burdening people through repeated hikes in bus fares and electricity tariffs and even increasing charges on drinking water. Alleging that Kerala lags behind neighbouring states in attracting investments, Chennithala said the LDF govt could not bring in a single big-ticket project in 10 years. Chennithala said that leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Kerala on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, Gandhi will tour Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Puthuppally and Ettumanur constituencies, and on Tuesday he will be in Malabar region, Chennithala said.