Latest news with #MSwaraj
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala: Congress striving hard to brand CPM ‘anti-Muslim'
MALAPPURAM: After a brief lull, in the wake of M Swaraj's dramatic entry into the Nilambur by-election fray and the overwhelming reception he received in the constituency, the Congress has hit the campaign trail with renewed vigour. The grand old party first tried to brand the CPM as 'anti-Muslim'. But with P V Anwar also positioning himself along similar lines, Congress leaders have upped the ante, attacking the CPM for 'denigrating Malappuram' district by branding it a hub of anti-social activities. The tone was set by AICC general secretary K C Venugopal during the UDF election convention. On Wednesday, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan turned on the heat saying that CPM leaders have been consistently targeting Malappuram. 'The PR agency of the chief minister issued a press release to a national daily in Delhi which said that extremist activities and gold smuggling are thriving in Malappuram. This is the narrative built by the Sangh parivar,' he said. 'The CPM leader assigned to lead the LDF campaign in Nilambur is the party politburo member A Vijayaraghavan. There have been at least a dozen statements from himinsulting the people of Malappuram,' Satheesan said.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala Public Works minister Riyas lashes out at Opposition over NH 66 allegations
KOZHIKODE: Dismissing Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan's allegations regarding the improper construction of NH 66 as politically motivated, Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas has said the remarks were rooted in electoral insecurity, particularly with M Swaraj being fielded as the LDF candidate in Nilambur. 'The arrival of a strong LDF candidate like M Swaraj has clearly unsettled the opposition leader. That's why he's raising his voice and throwing around baseless allegations,' Riyas told reporters in Kozhikode on Sunday. He hinted that the opposition's sudden focus on national highway issues is an attempt to deflect attention from internal setbacks and the Congress party's questionable alliances. 'Those who speak about a CPM-BJP nexus should first explain what action they took in Thrissur, where it was the Congress that helped the lotus bloom. Who truly worked behind the scenes,' Riyas asked. Addressing the allegations regarding flaws in highway construction, the minister said, 'If any construction defect is found, we will definitely take action. But let's be clear, the responsibility for the construction lies with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), not the state government.'
