Thiruvananthapuram: On a two-day visit to poll-bound Kerala, BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday attacked the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying the CM has lost his credibility and his office has "embarrassed the self-respect" of Keralites through various corruption allegations including the gold smuggling case.
Nadda, who reached here at noon to set in motion the organisational activities of the saffron party ahead of the Assembly elections likely in April-May, told reporters that the assembly resolution against constitutional body CAG was dangerous in a democratic set up.
He hit out at the LDF and the opposition UDF spearheaded by the Congress, saying they are two sides of the same coin.
At a press conference, the former union health minister also said half of the COVID-19 cases in the country are being reported from Kerala due to the "inefficiency of the political leadership".
The BJP chief also hit out against the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and said Oommen Chandy, who was "involved in the solar scam case", was brought to the forefront to fight the elections and the front was not serious about the people.
"People are disgusted with the corruption of the present government. There is rampant corruption. The gold smuggling case, Life Mission project, the KIIFB, Sprinklr data case. In the gold scam case, involvement of CMO has embarrassed the self-respect of Malayalees. Pinarayi Vijayan has lost his credibility."
"It seems like the involvement of many ministers are going to come to light in this investigation. Speaker is also involved in the gold scam case," Nadda claimed.
The BJP chief said it was the chief minister who sought the centre's probe and has now turned against it after the probe reached his office.
"The LDF has been systematically attacking the constitutional bodies. The resolution against the CAG itself shows that it was very dangerous to the democratic set up. Keeping the rules aside, more than three lakh appointments have been done. These are backdoor appointments. PSC is a recruitment ground for the CPI(M)," Nadda said.
He said the Left government has not formulated any strategy to tackle the COVID-19 cases in the state.
"I was here when the Nipah virus issue came up. Now, half of the cases in the country are reported from Kerala. Due to the ineffective political leadership in Kerala, the COVID cases are increasing. No strategy has been formulated. I am sorry to say but the political leadership is lacking vision," Nadda said.
He said the Congress has backstabbed the people of Kerala in the Sabarimala matter and the stand of the BJP in the issue will remain the same.
"Rahul Gandhi has not spoken on the issue. They are just power seekers. Hundreds of cases were registered against our workers. Nothing against Congress. Surendran, our state chief is facing over 200 cases," he said.
Nadda said now Oommen Chandy has been brought to the forefront and he was "involved" in the solar case.
"Chennithala's (leader of opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala) name has come up in the bar bribery case. The UDF leadership is not serious about the people and only seeks power," BJP chief said.
Nadda alleged both the fronts were corrupt and have lost their credibility, adding, they are two sides of the same coin.
"Both are corrupt, both the fronts have lost their credibility, there is no vision for Kerala and both are only power seekers," Nadda told a press conference here.
"While the two fronts are fighting each other in Kerala, the left and the Congress are allies in West Bengal for the upcoming assembly polls. This is ideological bankruptcy."
"The involvement of M Sivasankar, former private secretary to Chief Minister, in the gold smuggling case, shows that corruption has patronage of the highest office," Nadda said.
The BJP chief rejected reports of factional feud in the state unit of the party and said the candidates for the Assembly elections will be selected as per the nature of the constituency and other factors.
(With PTI inputs)