DH Interview | Projection of some leaders as CM candidate of Congress is 'unfair', says V D Satheesan

The Leader of Opposition called the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan an opportunist with nexus with both the RSS and the SDPI.

Paravur: Leader of opposition in Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan, who is leading the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the state elections, calls projection of some leaders as CM candidate of the Congress as 'unfair'.

Responding to recent statements by senior party leaders P J Kurien and K Sudhakaran backing former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala for the top job, Sudhakaran in an interview to DH said, as in Telangana and Karnataka, CM is decided after the elections.

Satheesan also called Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan an opportunist with nexus with both the RSS and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI- which is considered as the political outfits of banned organization Popular Front of India).

Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Q) Election campaigns are entering the final laps. What are your expectations now?

A) The UDF will definitely come back with more than 100 seats in the 140 member house.

Q) What are the positive factors for UDF?

A) For the last five years we have been winning all the by-elections. We had a very good victory in Parliament elections too. In the local body election we received the biggest victory of the last 30 years. Now we are very well prepared. There is a huge anti-incumbency against the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. People believe that when UDF comes back, there will be change in Kerala.  

Q) Some Congress leaders are projected as future Kerala Chief Ministers even as the Congress leadership says that CM candidate will be selected only after election. Will it affect UDF's prospects in the elections?

A) That's very unfair. AICC has some procedures. We used to announce our chief minister candidate only after elections just like what happened in Karnataka and Telangana.

Q) Will the CPI(M)'s allegation of 'Congress deal with BJP' affect the support of the minority community to UDF?

A) Minorities know very well about CPI(M). CPI(M) are opportunist politicians. Sometimes they are with RSS. Now they are with SDPI. Minorities are very well aware of this.

Q) Why is Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hesitating to openly admit SDPI's support to LDF?

A) In the 2024 Parliament election, SDPI supported UDF. Within hours I convened a press conference and openly rejected their support. We're the first coalition to reject a support in the peak of the elections. Unfortunately our Chief Minister is keeping mum about the SDPI connection. He's an opportunist. He has connections with RSS as well as SDPI. The people are very much aware of these deals.

Q) What do you think is the reason for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the Sabarimala issue in his address as Palakkad?

A) There is an unholy nexus between the BJP and the CPI(M). The BJP is not ready to accuse the CPI(M). 

Q) Do you anticipate a hung Assembly in Kerala as the BJP is pinning hopes on several seats?

A) Never. In ten seats only there are some triangular fights. Even in that, there is no possibility for the BJP to win. They won't win a single seat in Kerala. LDF is the main opponent here.

Q) What is your expectation about your constituency Paravur this time?

A) I've been winning from here for the last 25 years. I'm celebrating my 25th year here. Every time people are giving me more margin. I captured the seat from LDF and started with a margin of around 7,000 and in the last election the margin increased to around 22,000.