Oommen Chandy turns emotional as the campaign concludes

KOTTAYAM: "No other Chief Minister has been subjected to so much abuses and allegations, said an emotional Oommen Chandy. The stone thrown at me was hit on my chest. It was a Chief Minister who was attacked. I said no to a hartal. I did not want the people to suffer," added Chandy. "Now the people will decide," he added speaking to reporters on Saturday afternoon, three hours ahead of the conclusion of the election campaign.
“I am the Chief Minister only till May 16. The elected MLAs and the High command will decide about the next Chief Minister, said Chandy.
When asked why the BJP and the LDF are targeting him, Chandy said: "BJP is targeting me politically but the Marxists are targeting me in many ways," he said. "They are fearing my connection with the people. Their leaders have stopped people from attending my Jana Sampark programme, he said.
He also slammed the liquor policy of the LDF which is for reducing the liquor consumption. “It is just an advice which has been there from long time back. The policy should be connected to the production of liquor, its availability and tax earned from that, he said.
When asked about the 'evidences' submitted by solar scam accused Saritha S Nair before the Solar commission, Chandy said that if those behind her trusted her credibility, these evidences would have been released at least ten days back. If so the main topic of discussions in this elections would have been different, he said. He also said that various allegations will not affect the chances of the UDF. "We are extremely confident of a win.
Aruvikkara bypolls was held when the solar and bar bribery allegations were at a high. Despite that we won the elections, he said.
Regarding the rape and Murder of Jisha, Chandy said that the UDF has not tried to politicise the issue. "The Government took the matter very seriously and is trying to find out the culprits and hand over maximum punishment to the culprits," he said.
Regarding Narendra Modi's 'Somalia remark', Chandy said that he was very much pained that the Modi did not show the willingness correct his speech. The Congress leadership has brought to the notice of the Election commission about the speech. The people of Kerala will react to the statement through the ballot, he said.
"Some BJP Union ministers who are in the state are trying to defend Modi saying that he had meant Attappady in the speech and the problem was in the translation. But then how did he mentioned Peravoor incident, asked Chandy.
The state Government had inquired about the Peravoor incident and had reports from two agencies on the issue. The PM should have looked into the two reports by the state or he should have used any of the Central agencies to inquire on the issue before making such a statement," he said.
BJP will not open account in the state. They could not even open an account in 1977, when the then Jan Sangh allied with the Marxist party, he said. That alliance was a setback for the Marxist party as they got only 29 seats, he added.
He also cited two facts which will pave way for a UDF win. "The unity of the UDF and its policy of development and care has been well received by the people, he said. He also strongly condemned the attack on the RMP candidate in Vadagara K K Rema. The two main issues faced by the people are the agrarian crisis and the closing down of the overseas Indian affairs department. Both these issues were topics of discussion in the campaign, he said.