Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, on Tuesday said that the “extreme right-wing methods” of the Pinarayi Vijayan government have deeply disappointed cultural activists and Left-leaning fellow travellers.
Speaking to mediapersons in Kalpetta, Wayanad, Satheesan claimed that many Left fellow travellers were now inclined to join the United Democratic Front (UDF), asserting that there was a strong public desire for a change in government in Kerala.
Referring to the possibility of a third consecutive term for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Satheesan said that when people hear of “Pinarayi 3.0,” they “put their hands on their heads,” an idiom he used to convey shock, dismay and despair.
He alleged that the people of Kerala were fatigued and distressed by the functioning of the current Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and were disheartened at the prospect of another five years under the same administration.
The senior Congress leader also alleged selective leaking of information in the Sabarimala gold heist case probe. He pointed out that when former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran was questioned in connection with two cases, the information became public only after three to four days.
However, he claimed that when UDF convener Adoor Prakash was questioned, details were leaked to the media even before Prakash reached the office of the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Satheesan alleged that agents of the CPM were part of the SIT probing the case and were selectively leaking information to the media. He further stated that if the SIT had recorded Adoor Prakash’s statement based on a photograph showing him alongside prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty, then it should also question Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as a photograph of the Chief Minister with Potty had also surfaced.
Claiming that the Left Front was disintegrating, Satheesan said there was a lack of mutual trust among its constituent parties. He alleged that relations between the CPM and CPI were strained, citing disagreements on multiple issues, including the PM-SHRI agreement, which he said was signed without consulting the CPI. He also claimed that the CPM was not on good terms with the Kerala Congress and the RJD.