Congress-led UDF in Kerala rides on 'BJP mukt Bharat' to sway upcoming polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress led UDF government will explore steps to form a state vigilance commission to probe corruption cases if voted to power in the May 16 assembly polls, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President V M Sudheeran said today.

Sudheeran, under whose pressure United Democratic Front (UDF) changed some controversial political policies, including the land issue, said the state-level commission could ensure more credibility and impartial investigation in the corruption cases.

"My suggestion is that steps should be taken to form a state-level vigilance commission if UDF comes into power again. There should be more credibility in the investigation of corruption related cases," KPCC President told in a meet-the-press programme here.

However, the present Vigilance system is efficient and his suggestion to the commission was it should ensure more credibility, he said.

The next UDF government would be more vigilant and cautious not to invite any charges or controversies, he said, adding that CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front ( LDF) opposition had no interest to end corruption. Their allegations were not ideology-based but according to their political convenience, he said.

He also said that UDF has a corrective force within the front to guide the government in the right direction in essential situations.

Attacking BJP, he said the functioning of the two year old BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would also be evaluated in the assembly polls.

Some of Modi's remarks in his election rallies would affect the poll prospects of BJP in the state, he said referring to Modi's comparison of Kerala to Somalia.

"Modi's speeches in the state were part of his attempts to defy federalism in the country. His Somalia remark and statements against All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Sonia Gandhi were sub-standard and unbecoming of his position as Prime Minister," he said.

Good that #SomaliaPM came2 Kerala as keralites had opportunity 2see original terror at close quarters-said 2 be behind genocide in Gujarat??

— Kerala PCC (@INCKerala) May 12, 2016

At a poll rally earlier this week in Kerala, Modi had said that the "infant mortality rate among Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in Kerala is worse than Somalia", setting off a political storm and triggering criticism in the social media.

Sudheeran said Congress is the only party at the national level to fight the saffron force while CPI(M) has its presence only in Kerala and West Bengal. Moreover, the third front has no relevance in the country.

"Congress is on a comeback trial. The recent civic body elections in Gujarat and Maharashtra in which Congress scored victory over BJP, is an indication to that. The party's aim is to ensure a BJP mukt Bharat in the next Lok Sabha elections in 2019," the leader added.