Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala
| Photo Credit: K Ragesh
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is acting as though he is on a mission to fulfil the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleged Ramesh Chennithala, senior Congress leader and Permanent Invitee to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Working Committee, on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at the Ernakulam District Congress Committee office, Mr. Chennithala described the CPI(M) and the BJP as “allies”, claiming that “the BJP makes statements on behalf of the Chief Minister and vice versa.”
He accused Mr. Vijayan of adopting “the British policy of divide and rule” in an attempt to “communally polarise” the people of Kerala. Mr. Vijayan, he said, appears to be competing with the Prime Minister for “the top spot in communally dividing people.”
On Marad riots
Mr. Chennithala remarked that “a wound should be allowed to heal, but the Chief Minister is keeping it festering” by repeatedly invoking the Marad riots. “The Marad riots were among the most unfortunate incidents in Kerala’s history. To suggest that these would recur if the United Democratic Front returned to power is patently false. During Oommen Chandy’s five-year tenure, not a single communal riot occurred,” he pointed out.
“It is now evident that appeasing majoritarian communalism is the CPI(M)’s political strategy for the 2026 State Assembly elections. Over the years, the CPI(M) has sought electoral gains by appeasing both majoritarian and minority communalism. In the run-up to the last parliamentary elections, the Chief Minister repeatedly raised the issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in an attempt to win minority votes, but the people of Kerala rejected this. Since then, he has shifted tactics, now attempting to appease majoritarian communalism by organising events such as Global Ayyappa Summit. Is it befitting for an elected Chief Minister to deliberately divide the people along communal lines? Will such actions serve the State’s interests?” Mr. Chennithala asked.
He further accused the Chief Minister of “laying the groundwork for the BJP’s growth” in Kerala since 2016, citing the victory of Suresh Gopi in Thrissur during the 2024 parliamentary elections and the BJP’s win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in the recent local body polls.
“Now, the Chief Minister seems determined not to rest until he helps the BJP secure a few MLAs,” Mr. Chennithala said.
Published – January 09, 2026 12:37 pm IST
