In a significant political move this Tuesday, Kerala’s Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) leveled serious accusations against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). They argue that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s recent support for the government-backed Global Ayyappa Sangamam – an event ostensibly focused on Sabarimala’s future development – is undeniable proof of a secret electoral pact between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to the UDF, this alliance aims to weaken the Congress party in Kerala, especially as a crucial election year approaches.
Adding fuel to their claims, the UDF highlighted an incident where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was observed sharing a state vehicle with Vellapally Natesan, the general secretary of SNDP Yogam. This shared ride occurred en route to the international conference, which concluded last week in Pampa. The UDF emphasized the timing of this public display, noting it took place despite strong objections to the conference from both the Congress and even the State leadership of the BJP.
Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan sharply criticized this public display, referring to it as a ‘pantomime of bonhomie’ – a staged show of friendliness between the two prominent figures. Speaking to reporters in Malappuram, Satheesan asserted that Chief Minister Vijayan’s overt association with a Hindu social organization leader, whom he described as ‘notorious for spewing venom against minorities,’ was far from accidental. Instead, he suggested it was a calculated move.
Satheesan further elaborated, claiming this was a ‘premeditated political message’ from the CPI(M) designed to attract votes from the Sangh Parivar base towards the LDF. He stressed that this aligns perfectly with Mr. Adityanath’s significant political endorsement of the Ayyappa Sangamam, suggesting a coordinated strategy.
It’s worth recalling that the Congress had previously pointed to the BJP’s victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in 2024 as concrete proof of a reciprocal relationship between the CPI(M) and the BJP. The party has also consistently accused the CPI(M) of shifting towards the Hindu majoritarian right, particularly after their previous efforts to attract minority votes proved unsuccessful. Furthermore, the Congress alleges that the CPI(M) uses ‘proxies’ – indirect means or individuals – to criticize leaders of Muslim and Christian social organizations, a tactic aimed at appealing directly to the Sangh Parivar’s support base within Kerala.
In response to these developments, UDF convenor Adoor Prakash has announced an extensive statewide campaign. The objective is to expose what the UDF views as the government’s blatant misuse of limited public funds, which they claim are being diverted for political campaigning disguised as development conferences. To ensure effective coordination, Mr. Prakash has scheduled district-level meetings for the UDF leadership.
This campaign comes after the UDF faced an awkward situation when some local leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in Malappuram showed interest in the government’s development conference, diverging from the Opposition’s official stance. According to a Congress insider, these upcoming meetings will also tackle existing campaigning weaknesses, specifically addressing the persistent organizational shortfall of inactive booth-level committees in many wards, a long-standing issue for the UDF.