Kerala assembly elections: Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi accuse LDF of colluding with BJP

KOZHIKODE: AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and opposition leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi ratcheted up the allegations of covert collusion between LDF and BJP in assembly polls, with Kharge claiming that BJP has deliberately fielded weak candidates in several seats to help LDF. Inaugurating UDF's mega rally at Kozhikode Beach that marked the formal launch of its poll campaign, Kharge asserted that ‘every vote for BJP is a vote gifted to LDF', alleging that the saffron party was not contesting to win but to help the ruling front retain power.Addressing the gathering virtually, Rahul echoed Kharge's views, saying only two fronts were fighting in Kerala, one being the UDF alliance and the other a partnership between BJP and LDF. Rahul, who was supposed to inaugurate the event, skipped it following the hospitalization of his mother and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Rahul asked why BJP govt at the Centre was not attacking chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan while it was targeting opposition leaders who fight BJP by filing cases and getting them interrogated by central agencies. "I want to ask the people of Kerala why BJP does not attack CM. Why are the cases against CM not going anywhere? This is the best proof of collusion between BJP and LDF," he said. Rahul alleged that BJP and CPM function without accountability to the people and do not believe that people of Kerala should be able to question them. "The policies of LDF simply cannot be differentiated from the policies of BJP and this is being said by real Left leaders who are contesting against LDF," Rahul said. He said LDF govt did not spare Sabarimala temple as multiple CPM leaders have been arrested for ‘stealing' kilos of gold. "How can a govt that does not respect Lord Ayyappa respect the people of Kerala?" he asked.‘Row over caps withRamesh picture'Controversy erupted at the rally as some activists protested the distribution of caps carrying the image of Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. Many expressed displeasure, saying it promoted an individual rather than the collective leadership of the party and the front. The issue comes at a time when Congress is already facing charges of squabbles between senior leaders over who will be the CM if UDF wins in May.