Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale's statement regarding Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is being discussed a lot. During his recent visit to Kerala, Athawale said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should join the NDA so that the state can get more funds from the Centre. The politics of the state has heated up due to the statement of Union Minister Athawale. The state's ruling party CPI(M) strongly criticized the statement of the Union Minister.
Talking to media in Kannur Athawale Said that if Vijayan joins NDA, Kerala will get more money from the Center and CPI(M) led LDF can remain in power in Kerala.
He asked that although BJP and CPI(M) are ideological opponents, it would be a 'revolutionary' step if Vijayan joins the NDA. If socialist leaders can join, why not communists?
He also suggested that CPI, the second largest party of the Left, join the BJP-led alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also give a big package to Kerala and this money can be used for the development of the state.
Earlier this month, the ruling Left Democratic Alliance (LDF), led by the Kerala Chief Minister, protested against the central government, alleging that it was withholding essential funds to the state.
Kerala Excise Minister MB Rajesh had alleged that the BJP-led central government has “reduced grants” and “delayed payments” on several central schemes.
Assembly elections are to be held in Kerala later this year, where there is a close contest between the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the ruling LDF. The victory in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation has opened the doors for the BJP-led NDA.
Strongly criticizing Athawale, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan described his words as “undemocratic and unconstitutional”.
He claimed that Kerala was not given funds of about Rs 2 lakh crore in the last five years, which it was entitled to. Govindan said that the statements of the Union Minister are directly against the constitutional principles and values and are an attack on the federal system of India.
He claimed that such statements are part of efforts to bring all constitutional institutions under the feet of RSS. The Marxist leader also said that such statements indicate a move towards neo-fascism associated with dictatorship.
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