UDF says Yogi Adityanath’s ‘endorsement’ of Ayyappa Sangamam signals CPI(M)‘s implicit electoral understanding with Sangh Parivar

The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on Tuesday sought to portray Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “endorsement” of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government-sponsored Global Ayyappa Sangamam, ostensibly for Sabarimala’s futuristic development, as the latest manifestation of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] ‘s “implicit understanding” with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to retard the Congress in Kerala in a crucial election year.

The UDF also sought to read political meaning into Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sharing the State car with SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan as they travelled together to the venue of the international conference, which concluded at Pampa last week, amid stiff Opposition from the Congress and also the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State leadership.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan took an oblique dig at the “pantomime of bonhomie” showcased by the two leaders.

He told reporters in Malappuram that Mr. Vijayan’s public demonstration of closeness with a Hindu social organisation leader, “notorious for spewing venom against minorities,” was no happenstance.

“It’s CPI(M)‘s premeditated political messaging to corral Sangh Parivar votes to the LDF fold, and dovetails with Mr. Adityanath’s profound political favour for the Ayyappa Sangamam,” he added. 

Last instance

Notably, the Congress had previously portrayed the BJP’s win in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in 2024 as evidence of the CPI(M)‘s “reciprocity with” the BJP.

The party had also accused the CPI(M) of gravitating towards the Hindu majoritarian right after its attempt to woo minority votes fell flat.

Congress has also accused the CPI(M) of “employing proxies” to berate Muslim and Christian social organisation leaders to play to the Sangh Parivar base in Kerala.

Campaign call

Meanwhile, UDF convenor Adoor Prakash has announced a State-wide campaign to expose what he called the government’s blatant misuse of scarce public funds for political campaigning under the pretext of development conferences.

Mr. Prakash has convened district-level UDF leadership meetings for better coordination. For one, the UDF found itself in an awkward position recently, after a section of the Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) local leadership in Malappuram expressed interest in the government’s development conference, contrary to the Opposition’s political line.

A Congress insider said meetings would also aim to address campaigning gaps caused by the lack of proactive booth-level committees in numerous wards, an organisational deficiency that has repeatedly plagued the UDF.