On April 1, the president of the Kerala unit of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Muvattupuzha Ashraf Moulvi, held a press conference and offered support to the Congress in the State in the Lok Sabha elections. The SDPI is the political arm of the proscribed Popular Front of India (PFI).
Congress leaders were guarded in their response. The convener of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), M.M. Hassan, stressed that the party would hold discussions on whether or not to accept the support offered. The Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, clarified that the UDF had not held any discussions or reached any understanding with the SDPI. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala pointed out that in a democratic setup, individuals, not parties, voted during elections and the party would not refuse votes from anyone. He, too, said that the Congress had not had any discussions with the SDPI.
As expected, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saw in the dithering an opportunity to attack the Congress. BJP State chief K. Surendran questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is seeking re-election from Wayanad, to clarify his stance on the party’s endorsement of the SDPI. Mr. Surendran, who is also a candidate from Wayanad, alleged that the PFI was involved in the killings of Hindus and Christians and was implicated in several violent incidents. By aligning with an outfit that is trying to “disintegrate the nation,” the Congress was betraying citizens, he said.
