Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala finds itself embroiled in a political maelstrom following a recent statement by JD(S) stalwart H. D. Deve Gowda, who asserted that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had granted his party's partnership with the BJP in Karnataka the green light in a bid to safeguard their interests. Kerala's JD(S) leader, K. Krishnankutty, unequivocally rebuffed Gowda's claims just one day later.

Krishnankutty not only disapproved of the national leadership's alignment with the BJP but also underscored the unwavering commitment of the state unit to maintain its alliance with the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

In a candid statement, Krishnankutty, who concurrently serves as a minister in the LDF government in Kerala, revealed, "I, along with our state president, Mathew T. Thomas, MLA, met with Deve Gowda and conveyed our opposition to joining forces with the BJP. The state party unit staunchly stands by the previous decision to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Left party in Kerala."

The opposition Congress has seized upon the JD(S) revelation, contending that it exposes an underlying understanding between the ruling CPI(M) and the BJP in Kerala. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala pointed to Krishnankutty's continued presence in the cabinet as further evidence of this alleged alliance.

As of now, the CPI(M) state leadership has yet to issue an official response to this unfolding situation.

Previously, the Kerala JD(S) unit had rejected the central leadership's directive to join the NDA, opting instead to remain steadfastly aligned with the LDF within the state.

This decision was made unequivocal after a state committee meeting convened in Kochi on October 7, where JD(S) Kerala president Mathew T. Thomas emphasized the lack of prior discussion within any party forum regarding the high command's announcement.

On Thursday, Deve Gowda, a former Prime Minister, confidently proclaimed that all state units of the JD(S), spanning Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra, had provided their consent to forge an alliance with the BJP.

"In Kerala, we are a part of the government, and one of our MLAs holds a ministerial position. These units comprehended the circumstances compelling us to join hands with the BJP and threw their weight behind our decision. Our minister in the Left party's government, K. Krishnankutty, in Kerala, has given his consent," he remarked.

"Kerala's Left government's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has granted full approval for our collaboration with the BJP in Karnataka to safeguard our party's interests. This is the situation," Deve Gowda asserted.

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