CPI(M), Congress commerce barbs over Jamaat-e-Islami backing UDF in Nilambur bypolls

The controversy within the June 19 bypoll marketing campaign stemmed after the Welfare Party of India (WPI), the political arm of JeI, introduced its assist for the UDF within the bypoll final week. Since 2019, the WPI has backed the UDF in most elections.

Following the WPI’s transfer, the CPI(M) has focused the Congress-led UDF relentlessly for sustaining shut hyperlinks with “extremist” outfits like JeI and accepting their assist throughout election campaigns.

CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan requested the Congress nationwide management to make clear if it has the identical stance because the state management about an outfit just like the JeI.

“For the first time in India, a Congress leader publicly said the current form of JeI was unlike its past and that the outfit has changed. Priyanka Gandhi is here to campaign in Nilambur. I want her to clarify if the national leadership also feels the same way about JeI. What’s the Congress national leadership’s stand on tying up with communal outfits like the JeI,” mentioned Govindan.

He mentioned the Congress would make JeI an affiliate associate of the UDF to garner a “few votes” in Nilambur and within the upcoming native physique and meeting elections.

Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan hit again stating that CM Pinarayi Vijayan was the primary to welcome Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.

“He even said once that there was no need for anyone to cover their heads while meeting JeI leaders, indicating it was not wrong to meet them. But now, the CM has forgotten all that. He has changed his colours. The CPM’s target is clear. It wants to divert the public attention away from the failures of the state government during the bypoll campaign,” he mentioned. The Nilambur bypoll is scheduled on June 19 and the votes will probably be counted on June 23.