Kerala CPM uses Puducherry political development, Ram Mandir fundraiser issues ahead of Assembly polls

The ongoing political developments at Puducherry and the contribution made by a Kerala Congress MLA to the Ram Mandir fundraising drive are being utilised by the CPM in Kerala tin drawing parallels between the Congress and BJP ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that all these developments are proving that there is not much difference between the Congress and BJP. "Did the Congress take any strong stand on any communal issues? They are triggering communal sentiment for electoral gains," he accused.

The CPM in Kerala has been campaigning that it is the only secular force to counter the communal agendas of the Congress and BJP.

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Hence, the switching over of some Congress MLAs in Puducherry to BJP camps is being highlighted by CPM in Kerala. A campaign that many Congress leaders in Kerala are also on the verge of joining the BJP is also doing the rounds for quite some time.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA in Kerala Eldose Kunnapillil was caught up in a row after he made a donation to the Ram temple fundraising being carried out by the RSS.

The issue came out after a picture of the Eldose making the contribution became viral.

As it triggered strong protests from various quarters, the MLA put up a defence that some temple committee members approached him seeking donation for a temple and he was not specifically told that they were RSS workers and it was for Ram temple construction. Hence, he gave Rs. 1,000.