LDF still engaged in buying BJP votes: Cong

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 8 (UNI) Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and Congress Leader Vayalar Ravi today alleged that the Left Democratic Front was still engaged in trading of BJP votes which was evident from keeping the Janata Dal(S) in the Front, which was having an alliance with the BJP in Karnataka.

''The Left Front is against a JD(S)-BJP alliance in Karnataka. If so, why should the LDF keep JD(S) in its Front here,'' he asked at a face-to-face programme organised by the Kesari Journalists' Trust here.

Alleging that the LDF was following a policy of communal appeasement and opportunism in the Assembly elections, Mr Ravi said the LDF's tie-up with the Indian National League, People's Democratic Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami only strengthened this allegation. ''The LDF had opposed to a tie-up of the Congress-PDP way back in 2001 and these very people are now having ties with these people. This only shows their policy of communal appeasement,'' he added.

The LDF, particularly the CPI(M), had thought of winning this election easily in the background of their victory in the recent Parliament and Local Body elections, he said and added that as the CPI(M) which had found that it was not that easy to win the elections, it had taken a policy of communal appeasement. It also showed that the CPI(M) would go to any extent for capturing power, he said.

Coming down heavily on Opposition Leader and CPI(M) Politburo member V S Achuthanandan, he said 'in every sense Mr Achutananda is against development. The Opposition Leader has gone on opposing every single project without conducting proper studies.'' Moreover, Mr Achuthanandan was raising all kinds of issues only today and he was silent as LDF Convenor during the E K Nayanar government, Mr Ravi said. ''Many issues, including the SNC Lavalin had come up during the Nayanar Government and Mr Achuthanandan was silent then. At that time he did not try to correct that government,'' he added.

Pointing out that there was no anti-incumbency factor in this election, he expressed his confidence that the Oommen Cchandy government would again come to power.

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