Battle in Kerala
With all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala at stake in the second phase of polling tomorrow, the electoral drama unfolds with its usual intensity, underscoring the unique political landscape of the state.
Congress leaders in Kerala on Sunday paid glowing tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth centenary.
At a function held at the state Congress headquarters, former two-time Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy described Gandhi as a “leader who led the party from the front and took it to new heights even though it was once written off by its rivals”.
“She was one leader who never ever faltered when entrusted with responsibilities. Her economic policies helped lay the foundations of India that we see now,” Chandy said.
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State Congress President MM Hassan described Indira Gandhi as “one who was rock solid in keeping India secular”.
“While Gandhi led the country with a socialist ideology, present Prime Minister Narendra Modi is treading a path where the only beneficiary is the corporates while the common man is finding it tough,” Hassan said.
Chandy, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony and leaders of the then Indian National Congress-Urs led by D. Devraj Urs parted ways with Indira Gandhi in 1978 and contested the 1980 assembly polls in tandem with a front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist and won.
However, in 1982, a good majority of Kerala leaders, including Chandy and Antony, returned to the parent Congress at a political meeting in Kochi which was presided over by Indira Gandhi.
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