A political row has erupted in Kerala over a statement by Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on October 19 that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had greenlit his party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka to protect its interests.
Kerala JD(S) leader K. Krishnankutty on October 20 firmly refuted Mr. Gowda's statement.
Opposing the national leadership’s association with the BJP, Mr. Krishnankutty also emphasised his party’s Kerala unit’s commitment to maintaining its alliance with the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).