Thiruvananthapuram: Senior CPI(M) leader and LDF candidate in Nemom, V. Sivankutty, on Monday stated that he cannot refuse votes from any section of society, asserting that doing so would be unconstitutional. His comments come amid allegations by the opposition UDF of a CPI(M)-SDPI understanding ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls.
Sivankutty clarified that he had not explicitly stated he would accept votes from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), but emphasised that a candidate cannot reject support from any group.
"The Constitution guarantees the right to vote to everyone. As a candidate, I can only request people to vote for me. I cannot announce that I won't accept the vote of a particular group. Does such a precedent exist anywhere in the country?" he asked, speaking to the media.
The CPI(M) leader said his primary goal in the election is to win, and anyone who recognises and supports his political stance is free to vote for him. "It is unconstitutional to say that we don't want a particular section's vote," he added, stressing that neither his personal stand nor that of his party would be compromised.
Dismissing the allegations of a deal with the SDPI, Sivankutty said he was unperturbed by such claims and alleged that in the past, it was the Congress and the BJP that had entered into understandings in the Nemom constituency.
He further accused the Congress of being responsible for the BJP opening its account in Kerala and claimed that the SDPI deal allegations were being raised to divert attention from discussions on development issues in the state.
With PTI inputs