Congress leader K. Muraleedharan has said that the CPI(M) and the BJP have become parties leading a mutual ‘give-and-take’ alliance across the State.
Inaugurating the UDF Kollam Corporation convention on Tuesday, he cited the emergence of several high-ranking CPI(M) members as rebel candidates in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation election as an example, arguing it was a protest against the secret CPI(M)-BJP pact.
“Many CPI(M) leaders possess the “magic trick” of being the CPI(M) by day and the BJP by night. This specific allegation is being raised against the Kazhakuttam MLA Kadakampally Surendran by CPI(M)’s own activists and leaders. CPI(M)’s connection with the BJP was the reason why K. Sreekandan and Arya Ashokan came forward as candidates in various divisions of the Thiruvanathapuram Corporation contesting against the party,” said Mr. Muraleedharan, who added that there is widespread discontent across the State against the CPI(M)’s double standards and this sentiment would turn favourable for the UDF.
Attacking the State government, he observed the education and health sectors are facing serious issues. “While the medical council says the medicines in government facilities are substandard, 11 out of 13 universities lack permanent Vice-Chancellors, leading to an inability to sign students’ certificates,” he said.
Mr. Muraleedharan added that the Sabarimala gold scam will be a key electoral issue for the UDF, asserting the party’s consistent support for devotees regarding both the alleged ritual violations and the scam. The senior Congress leader also questioned the sincerity of the BJP because of “its suspicious silence and slow pace of protest on the gold scam despite claiming to represent the interests of Hindus.”
V. S. Sivakumar, KPCC Political Affairs Committee member in charge of the Corporation, presided over the function. UDF leaders Shibu Baby John, P. Rajendraprasad, N. K. Premachandran MP, P. C. Vishnunath MLA, G. Devarajan, Bindu Krishna, K. C. Rajan, Noushad Yunus, and A. A. Azeez also spoke at the event.
Published – November 25, 2025 07:26 pm IST
