Thiruvananthapuram: Defending senior CPM leader and politburo member A Vijayaraghavan over his comment on the Congress' win in the recently held Lok Sabha and Assembly byelections in Kerala, the Left Front said the UDF won Wayanad and Palakkad with the support of communal groups facilitated by Muslim League (IUML).

CPM state secretary MV Govindan and LDF convener TP Ramakrishnan, coming to Vijayaraghavan's aid on Monday, said that the Left will continue fighting against both minority and majoritarian communalism.

Speaking at a party gathering in Wayanad on Saturday, Vijayaraghavan alleged that Rahul Gandhi's electoral success in the high-range constituency was due to support from communal groups and claimed that extremist factions were present at Priyanka Gandhi's campaign events.

According to Ramakrishnan, Vijaraghavan's criticism targeted Congress's alleged alliances with organisations like SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami through the IUML. "The controversies surrounding his remarks are baseless. Vijayaraghavan was highlighting Congress's alignment with communal forces," Ramakrishnan said.

He further accused SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami of advocating for a religious state. "It is the IUML that ensures the presence of such forces within the UDF, and their support contributed to UDF's victories in Wayanad and Palakkad," he added, noting that SDPI activists were at the forefront of celebrations following the UDF's win in Palakkad.

Ramakrishnan emphasised that Vijayaraghavan's remarks were not communal but aimed at safeguarding society from divisive forces. He clarified that the Left does not consider the IUML a communal organisation but criticised its role in facilitating alliances with extremist groups.

Govindan echoed these views, asserting that Congress’s association with SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami would harm both the party and the IUML in the long run. He reiterated the CPM's commitment to opposing minority and majoritarian communalism and extended full support to Vijayaraghavan.

Vijayaraghavan’s remarks sparked strong reactions from the Congress and the Muslim League. While Congress leaders accused the CPM leader of pandering to the Sangh Parivar with his statements, IUML leaders criticised him for attempting to fuel communal tensions among the majority.