Congress is politically incompetent and ideologically bankrupt, says D. Raja

You are talking to the Tamil population in Munnar in Tamil… 

I campaigned in Tamil in Thiruvananthapuram and Punalur as well, as the people wanted me to. There is such great affection and the people want to hear about issues relating to their livelihood and the State’s progress rather than baseless allegations. 

While the Left in Kerala is seeking continuity, it is under attack for an alleged tacit understanding with the BJP and also with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). 

These are all baseless allegations. Looking at history, Kerala elected the world’s first Communist government through the ballot in 1957. The people here know very well what the Left movement stands for and what the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) represents. Nobody can undermine the political maturity and ideological understanding of the people of Kerala. 

The Left is the most uncompromising force fighting communal and fascist forces, from the majority or the minority. When Mr. Gandhi says “the Left has lost its Left character”, what does he mean? Will he be able to explain? 

Narendra Modi is speaking in the same manner, as though the Left and the Congress have become one. In fact, it was the Left that fought against and broke one-party rule — the Congress rule — in 1957. And now Mr. Modi is talking about ‘one nation, one election” as though he can reverse history. The people will assess political parties on the basis of their performance and their political and ideological vision for the future of Kerala. Going by the mood of the people, I believe the LDF will continue in power for a third consecutive term. 

Adult franchise is one of the major achievements and strengths of our democracy, and how people vote is entirely up to them. However, we have no ideological or political compromise with any communal forces. 

Given the LDF’s debacle in the local body elections just two months ago, isn’t there anti-incumbency at work? 

Yes, there were some setbacks, but people vote in local body elections taking into account many factors, such as local administrative issues and the conduct of individuals. 

On issues that have far-reaching implications for the welfare of the people and the development of the State, people take wise and measured decisions. 

At the national level, we are witnessing how democracy is being undermined, how the Constitution is being undermined, and how federalism is being undermined. People are analysing all of this. 

Kerala is known for its communal harmony; people live together and share their problems and challenges. That is why the Left matters to the people of Kerala. 

Is it a matter of concern for the Left that the BJP has been making inroads into Kerala’s polity?

Definitely. Its vote share has increased to some extent in recent times and its propaganda has become widespread. Starting from the Prime Minister, the BJP’s top leaders frequently visit Kerala because they view a Left-administered Kerala as a challenge to them. 

They are therefore desperate to gain a foothold in the State. Their desperation is clear from Mr. Modi’s body language. He comes to Kerala and speaks of ‘Viksit Keralam’. Earlier he spoke of ‘Viksit Bharat’. What happened to that? Is Kerala not part of “Viksit Bharat”? 

Where is the BJP in South India? It is a matter of concern for the BJP that the people continue to reject it. The party’s manipulations in Bihar, Maharashtra and Haryana do not work here. 

The south has its own distinct history, and the BJP knows that its politics cannot succeed in this region. In Tamil Nadu, people still refer to Periyar. In Kerala, people speak of Sree Narayana Guru and the first Communist government, which introduced many progressive measures. The BJP is therefore desperate and so is Mr. Modi. 

Mr. Modi came here and raised the issue of Kerala’s debt. Now the people, and I, are asking: what is India’s foreign debt today? Who is responsible for it? What has happened to the value of the Indian rupee? Mr. Modi should be ashamed of this situation.

When he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, he said that the value of the Indian rupee reflected the honour of the nation. Where is that honour now?

You mentioned Rahul Gandhi’s comments. Is the Congress equally desperate, having been out of power for 10 years?

Yes, the Congress and Mr. Gandhi are desperate. But they should undertake some serious introspection. The Congress must accept responsibility for the defeat of the Mahagathbandhan in the Bihar election. There was no proper seat-sharing or joint campaign. The situation in Haryana was no different, and the Congress should take the blame. 

The ideological bankruptcy and political incompetence of the Congress are there for all to see. Yet it refuses to introspect on how to function effectively in a democracy such as ours. That is why the Congress has become desperate and is stooping to such a low level, resorting to slanderous campaigns and allegations. 

So, is the Congress responsible for the failures of the INDIA bloc?

That is precisely what we have been pointing out to the Congress. When we work together, there must be mutual trust and mutual accommodation. 

Our primary objective is to protect the Constitution, to safeguard the secular democratic republic, and to take the country forward on the principles of social justice and equality. 

As far as Kerala is concerned, the LDF’s performance is there for everyone to see. If the Congress genuinely wishes to criticise the LDF, let it take up even one issue and criticise the government on that basis. We can say with confidence that the LDF government has been successful on many fronts. Kerala ranks first on many indices: it has recorded the lowest multi-dimensional poverty index, it leads in healthcare, life expectancy stands at 75 years, and there has been notable progress in education and public-sector employment. The government has also increased the minimum wages of labourers. 

Let the Congress therefore identify at least one issue on which it can argue that the LDF government has failed or made no progress. Instead, it has resorted to a slanderous campaign. This is something Mr. Gandhi should realise; as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, he must speak with greater responsibility.

How do you see the Left performing in the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal elections?

In Tamil Nadu, the Left is contesting 10 seats. The VCK, a party that claims to be close to the Left, is contesting eight. The DMK-led coalition has emerged as a strong alliance in Tamil Nadu with a clear political and ideological perspective. The DMK and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin have openly declared that the BJP should not gain any foothold in Tamil Nadu, and the coalition appears to have the edge. 

In Puducherry, the Congress played a negative role and did not allow proper seat-sharing. 

In Bengal, the Left is doing its utmost to revive itself, to emerge once again as a force to be reckoned with, and to influence the political course of West Bengal. 

In Assam, there are many complex issues, and the Chief Minister is particularly aggressive on communal lines.