Vijayan was responding to Rahul Gandhi’s point that the central government’s investigation teams and arrests have been aimed at many opposition politicians, but not at the Chief Minister of Kerala. Vijayan’s answer wasn’t just about him, it was also a way of defending what his own party has done.
Context of the ‘B-team’ Accusation
Vijayan said Congress is actually helping the BJP by not strongly opposing what the BJP is doing. He thinks they are playing a secondary part, rather than really fighting against the party that is currently in power.
Vijayan says the LDF, led by the CPI(M), is totally against all kinds of politics based on religion. He emphasized that his government doesn’t need or want the support of groups that promote either the interests of the majority or the minority religious communities, and this is unlike Congress, who he says are trying to get the support of these religiously focused groups.
Accusations of Appeasement and Communal Outreach
He directly accused Congress of “appeasement politics”, saying they are looking for support from groups that emphasize people’s religious identities. According to Vijayan, this damages both secular beliefs and politics based on social class, and distracts people from important issues of running the government, such as improvements and public services.
The way Vijayan is presenting things is to make the election about core beliefs. He is using the claim of ‘appeasement’ to show the LDF as always defending secularism, while showing Congress as being politically damaged and not able to effectively oppose the BJP.
Sabarimala Gold Loss and Legal Oversight
Regarding the missing gold at Sabarimala, Vijayan said the Kerala High Court is watching the investigation and hasn’t found anything wrong with how it’s going. The government has been clear, he said, that anyone involved will be punished, and he was saying this to respond to what the opposition parties have been saying.
Vijayan doesn’t think the CPI(M) will lose political support because of this controversy. He believes the ongoing investigation by the courts and the government’s stated position will stop the opposition from successfully attacking them, especially with the April 9th elections approaching.
Higher Education Reforms and Centre-State Tensions
Vijayan pointed to the recent improvements in higher education in Kerala, saying the state is working to make its colleges and universities as good as those in other countries. He’s presenting these changes to education as part of the LDF’s overall performance in government, something they will emphasize during the election campaign.
However, he accuses the central government of being unfriendly towards Kerala on many issues. He mentioned disputes about money for rebuilding Wayanad (an area affected by landslides) and criticized the BJP leader in the state for his comments about central government help to Kerala, calling them “nonsense.” He sees these problems as both political and relating to money.
Implications for the Assembly Polls and Political Debate
The argument between Vijayan and Congress shows a bigger, more important political struggle before the state elections. Saying that another party is secretly helping the BJP can influence how people vote and what messages are used in the campaign, particularly when discussing secularism and how well the government is doing.
In the end, voters will consider what each side says about the police, investigations into corruption, what has been achieved in terms of development, and politics related to religion. Vijayan’s statements are intended to get people to support the LDF by highlighting what the government has done, the changes to education, and a firm position against encouraging religious groups. The election in April will show if that message is accepted by the people when they vote.
