Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sharply criticizes the Congress, attributing its defeat in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh assembly elections to the party's 'greed and lust for power' and its failure to form alliances, emphasizing the need for opposition unity.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the Congress on Monday, attributing its defeat in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh to the party's "greed and lust for power." Vijayan asserted that the Congress' decision to go solo and not form alliances with other INDIA alliance parties played a significant role in the unfavorable election results, as reported by PTI.
Vijayan highlighted instances in Madhya Pradesh where Congress leader Kamal Nath's reluctance to join forces with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and in Rajasthan where the party declined to collaborate with other secular parties, including the CPI(M), contributed to their losses. The Kerala CM argued that a united front would have yielded different outcomes in these states.
Addressing questions on whether the Left party needed the Congress to win, Vijayan emphasized the larger goal of defeating the BJP, stating that unity among opposition parties was crucial. He pointed out alleged non-secular statements made by Kamal Nath during the campaign, characterizing them as contributing factors to the Congress' defeat in Madhya Pradesh.
Vijayan also accused the Congress of going solo in Chhattisgarh, further attributing the party's loss there to its independent approach. He criticized Nath for allegedly adopting a non-secular stance, likening it to becoming the "B team of the BJP," and asserted that the Congress leadership failed to address the issue.
The CPI(M), part of the INDIA alliance, echoed similar sentiments, citing internal conflicts, a hunger for power, and some leaders acting as "undercover agents of the BJP" within the Congress as contributing factors to the election setbacks.
In a significant electoral sweep, the BJP secured victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, consolidating its dominance in the Hindi heartland. This outcome was seen as a substantial boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and set the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite these losses, the Congress managed to defeat the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana, providing a small consolation amid the saffron wave.