UDF, LDF trying to keep us out of power: BJP

The rival fronts in Kerala led by the CPI-M and the Congress were hand in glove to keep the BJP out of power in the state, state BJP president V. Muraleedharan said on Monday.

"The general pattern is that whenever there is an election, the CPI-M and the Congress join hands to keep us out," he told the media.

"It was witnessed in the last assembly polls, and is now seen in the local body elections," he added. The local body elections are due in the first week of November.

He alleged that a "secret pact" between the rival fronts was evident from the way the CPI-M was silent even after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the local elections would be a referendum on his governance.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader said a "secret pact" had been reached between the two main fronts had been reached in several districts for the coming local polls.

The polls would be held for 21,871 seats in 941 villages, 152 blocks and 14 district panchayats besides 86 municipalities and six corporations.

"For some reason, the Leftists are now not speaking about corruption charges against the Chandy government. The CPI-M appears ready to allow Chandy another term. Their only aim is to keep us out," Muraleedharan said.

He said neither the CPI-M nor the Congress said a word in the past against V. Natesan, the Hindu Ezhava leader and general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Sangom. But the moment he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he became a persona non grata.

"Natesan is now said to be a corrupt person and both these parties are cut up with him. The BJP will not say anything on charges against Natesan. At several places, we are extending support to the SNDP in the local polls and vice versa," added the BJP leader.

He said the BJP would never dictate what people should eat and what not. "Anything can be eaten, be it beef, buffalo or pork meat. This is a personal choice," said Muraleedharan.