BJP slams CPI(M)-led LDF government

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP Thursday listed "various controversies" during the CPI(M)-led LDF governments 100 days in office and accused it of using these to divert the attention of the people.

"The controversies include plea to allow women devotees of all ages to offer worship at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, no lighting of traditional lamps and religious hymns at government functions and no laying of floral carpets in offices during duty hours (for Onam)," BJP state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan claimed in a statement.

"They could not move forward as they desired. When this realisation dawned on them, unnecessary controversies were being kicked up to divert the attention of the people," he alleged.

"LDF came to power saying everything will be set right. However, so far there has been no signs of the government making any constructive contributions so far," Rajasekharan alleged.

In another statement, former Union minister and lone BJP MLA in the state Assembly O Rajagopal, said they were ready to cooperate with the government.

"However, what is needed for the state first is peace. Where there is peace, only there will be development," he said.

Rajagopal alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to govern by suppressing his political rivals and said, since there is no freedom of expression in the LDF, the CPI is expressing their views publicly.