Kerala LoP V D Satheesan: ‘BJP pressuring CPM with cases … That’s why Vijayan attacking Rahul in its tone’

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala is looking to repeat its 2019 Lok Sabha performance, where it won 19 of the 20 seats in the state. Like five years ago, senior leader Rahul Gandhi is a key UDF face in the state and is the party’s candidate from Wayanad. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan talks to The Indian Express about the UDF’s prospects, challenge from rivals, and Rahul’s role. among other issues. All seats in Kerala will vote in the second phase on April 26.

After completing the first phase of campaigning, I have seen a strong sentiment against the Centre and the state government. The BJP is losing confidence by the day. The arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the I-T department freezing the Congress’s account show that the BJP is jittery.

Democratically conscious people have realised that the concept of free and fair elections is in danger.

People have a strong resentment against the Pinarayi Vijayan government, which is tangible even among Left workers. The state is under the grip of its worst-ever financial crisis. Welfare pensions of around 62 lakh people have been pending for several months, government hospitals do not have sufficient stock of medicines, PDS markets are empty, and local bodies are struggling to undertake development works due to paucity of funds. Even the salaries of state government employees were delayed last month. We have never faced such a crisis in the past.

Apart from the 15 seats that it contests in the state, the CPI(M) contests only a few more across the country. How can such a party fight the BJP? While CPI(M) leaders have admitted that they are contesting the polls to retain the party’s national status and election symbol, the Congress is