Pinarayi Vijayan’s Kerala poll prediction: ‘BJP will draw a blank again, Congress its B-team’

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says Sabarimala gold theft case won't impact poll outcome

• Vijayan predicts BJP will not win seats in Kerala election
• Congress accused of aiding BJP nationally, says Vijayan
• Sabarimala gold theft case won't affect poll outcome

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Ahead of the Kerala Assembly election, Chief Minister and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan predicted that the BJP would once again fail to open its account in the state.

In an interview with The Hindu, Vijayan (81) said Congress acts as the BJP’s B-team, even nationally. According to him, the Congress has not been able to stop the BJP in its tracks.

“Only the Left has steadfastly resisted the BJP, which it will continue even more vigorously. And the BJP is unlikely to make any electoral gain this time either. Nationally, only a united fight is possible against the BJP, but the Congress always foils such bids by vitiating the atmosphere, giving the BJP an edge. Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi refuse to learn from their mistakes,” he said.

When asked about the BJP’s Christian outreach in Kerala, the CM said the party may harbour many desires, but “nothing is going to materialise and there will be no consolidation in its favour”.

When asked if the Sabarimala gold theft case would impact poll outcome, the CM said it would not. “People have understood the truth about it. The High Court is supervising the investigation and has made it clear that there’s no external interference. The investigation is in the right direction and no guilty will go scot-free,” he told The Hindu.

Regarding the submissions at the Supreme Court, Vijayan said the state government had responded to a set of questions with clarity. “The issue of women’s entry to the temple wasn’t part of the questions. We reiterated what we had said in 2007: that religious scholars, experts and social reformers should be consulted while addressing the question of temple customs and rituals,” he said.

The CM also said while it harps on “develop Kerala” now, it has not done anything for the state. “Despite repeated appeals and the stupendous feats in public healthcare, we have not got an AIIMS. When the State was hit by disasters, the Centre not only turned its back, but blocked support from the countries which share a deep bond with Kerala. Did any other State in India receive such ignominious treatment in the face of a disaster? It was just us. Didn’t it demonstrate a mentality that wanted to see the State perish,” he said.