Former editor of the RSS mouthpiece alleges secret deal between Kerala CPI-M and State BJP

Thiruvananthapuram: R. Balasankar, a former editor of the RSS mouthpiece Organiser on Tuesday has alleged that there seems to be a secret deal between the CPI-M in Kerala and the State BJP leadership, while speaking to a Malayalam TV channel.

Balashankar said that he has now realised that the reason for denying him the Chengannur assembly seat was perhaps due to an alleged secret deal between the state units of the BJP and the CPI-M.

"Chengannur and Aranmula are two constituencies where the BJP is strong and I had started my campaign at Chengannur. I managed to strike a relation with three major social groups. But later when I found that another BJP candidate was named for Chengannur, I realised that there was some alleged secret deal between the BJP and CPI-M, as the candidate was close to the present sitting CPI-M legislator. A similar candidate has also been listed to contest from Aranmula," said Balasankar.

Balashankar also revealed that he had friendly relationship with late Kerala Congress leader K M Mani and said that Jose K Mani, the leader of Kerala Congress (Mani Faction) was ready to be the part of NDA.

"BJP's state leadership ruined those possiblities", he criticized.

Reacting to Balasankar's statement, two time former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, after filing his nomination papers said that was what they had been saying for a while.

"The CPI-M is aiming to retain power, while the BJP wants to get a few more legislators and this is what we have been saying that there is a deal. Look, nothing can be kept as a secret for long and just see, what we have been saying has come out from their side itself. The people of Kerala are observing everything and they can never be fooled," said Chandy.

In the 140-member Kerala assembly, the BJP opened its account for the first time in 2016 by winning one seat, of Nemom near capital Thiruvananthapuram.

(With inputs from IANS)