After its defeat in the Nilambur bypoll in Kerala, the CPI(M) has accused the Congress of winning the election with support from communal forces. CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan said that the Congress benefited from the backing of the Welfare Party, the political arm of Jamaat-e-Islami, and warned of long-term consequences.

“They may have gained some votes now, but this alliance with communal forces will have lasting implications,” Govindan said, questioning the Congress’s secular credentials.

“VD Satheesan himself said before and after the election that they got Jamaat-e-Islami’s support. This isn’t the first time, he said they got their support earlier too,” he said.

Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan questioned the Left party’s double standards. “Even after Priyanka ji’s win by a huge margin, CPI(M)’s Vijayaraghavan said she won with extremist votes. So everyone who voted for her are extremists?” he asked. “In this election, CPI(M) had support from the PDP and Hindu Mahasabha. When someone is with CPI(M) they are secular, but when they leave, they’re called communal?”

Satheesan added that CPI(M) was trying to discredit the Congress win and polarise voters. “There was no controversy in 2019 when the Welfare Party supported us. Why raise it now? For three decades before that, Jamaat-e-Islami was with CPI(M).”

He also alleged that CPI(M)’s comments were a distraction tactic. “They want to appease their masters in Delhi because of the cases against the Chief Minister and his family.”

Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath defeated the ruling CPI(M)’s M Swaraj by a margin of 11,077 votes, marking the UDF’s first win in a CPI(M)-held seat in over four years.

– Ends