Congress claims LDF allies were forced to support CPI(M), CPI denies the claim

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress on Thursday claimed that voters of the ruling LDF in Kerala had abandoned their stand on ADGP MR Ajithkumar’s meeting with the RSS and were forced to accept the line of its key partner CPI(M).

KPCC president K Sudhakaran made the statement a day after an LDF meeting was held here and supported Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s decision not to take any action against ADGP (Law and Order) Ajithkumar, who is facing various allegations of misconduct, till the investigation is completed.

Ajithkumar had also been criticised by the opposition and some LDF voters, including the CPI, over his meeting with RSS leaders in 2023. These allegations were made by Left MP PV Anvar.

Reacting to the Congress party’s allegations, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said his party’s stand on Ajithkumar’s meeting with RSS leaders remains unchanged and there is no change.

Sudhakaran attacked the Left electorate, claiming that they were unable to correct the CPI(M) and the Prime Minister and were instead forced to abandon their positions and bow to the wishes of the CPI(M).

He claimed that Prime Minister Vijayan would increase the influence of the RSS within the CPI(M) and LDF and would rapidly advance saffronisation.

“The CPI(M) has conveniently forgotten its historical animosity towards the RSS. The party now faces an ideological challenge,” the KPCC chairman said.

He alleged that a group of officials with links to the RSS, like ADGP Ajithkumar, have become more popular with the CPI(M) than its own front leaders.

“The ADGP’s meetings with RSS leaders had the full approval of the Prime Minister. Therefore, the Prime Minister is providing protection to the ADGP citing formalities,” the senior Congress leader alleged.

CPI state secretary Viswam reiterated that his party’s stand on the ADGP’s meeting with RSS leaders remains firm and unchanged, and rejected Congress’s allegations of a change in position.

“If the chief minister says we should wait for the inquiry report, then we all have the political decency to accept that,” Viswam told reporters, referring to what Vijayan had told the Left electorate leaders at the meeting on Wednesday.

He said the investigation, which was being carried out by a special team led by the state police chief, should not drag on indefinitely.

“The question is why the ADGP has been meeting RSS leaders repeatedly. The question is: what is the basis for the ADGP, which is responsible for maintaining law and order in Kerala, to hold such meetings with RSS leaders? This question is legitimate. Our stand remains the same; there is no change,” Viswam said.

Viswam said the CPI had already expressed its views on behalf of the LDF.

The CPI leader said there was no connection between LDF and RSS.

“The LDF is a political front that has always opposed the ideology and philosophy of the RSS. The Left leaders have no connection with the RSS,” Viswam said.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said that all the allegations made by MLA Anvar against ADGP Ajithkumar would be investigated.

“The government has taken a political decision in this matter and the investigation is being headed by the DGP (state police chief). The report on the serious allegations against the ADGP will be submitted within a month and further action will be taken accordingly,” Govindan said.

He said there was nothing unusual about Ajithkumar continuing to serve as ADGP, citing the example of an earlier investigation against a former SP of Malappuram who was later suspended following the investigation report.

Govindan also stressed that there was no crisis in the government or the CPI(M) on this issue.

“The Prime Minister himself has made it clear that the government will not protect anyone,” he added.

Meanwhile, a special team led by the state police chief recorded the ADGP’s statement at the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

Anvar, a businessman turned politician and MP from Nilambur constituency, recently alleged that ADGP Ajithkumar had been tapping the phones of ministers, political leaders and journalists. He also alleged that Ajithkumar had close links with gold smuggling gangs and was involved in several serious crimes.

Moreover, Anvar wanted to take action against the senior police officer after the news of his meeting with two RSS leaders in 2023 surfaced in the media.

Despite criticism of the ADGP and strong demands from its few partners, including the CPI, to take action against the officer, the CPI(M)-led LDF said that no further action would be taken until the government receives the report of the comprehensive investigation into the allegations made by Nilambur MP Anvar against the IPS officer.