Congress alleges business links between LDF Convenor and BJP candidate

The Congress has accused LDF Convenor E P Jayarajan of having business connections with BJPs Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar, but both leaders have vehemently denied the allegations.

The Congress party in India has raised allegations against LDF Convenor E P Jayarajan, claiming that he has business connections with BJP's Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha election candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Both Jayarajan and Chandrasekhar have vehemently denied these allegations.

Jayarajan Denies Allegations, Challenges Satheesan to Prove

Jayarajan, a senior CPIM leader, addressed the media in Kozhikode and refuted the allegations made by Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan. He asserted that he is not a businessman and has never met or spoken to Chandrasekhar personally. Jayarajan challenged Satheesan to provide evidence of any such business connection, stating that if proven, he would willingly hand it over to Satheesan for free.

LDF MLA's Allegation Against Satheesan

In a separate development, LDF MLA P V Anwar had recently claimed that Satheesan received Rs 150 crore to sabotage the SilverLine rail project in Kerala. This allegation was brought up by Jayarajan during his press conference.

Chandrasekhar Dismisses Claims, Accuses Congress of Spreading Lies

Meanwhile, Chandrasekhar, while speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram, dismissed the claims made by Satheesan. He expressed frustration with the Congress party's lack of focus on development and accused them of resorting to lies and fabrications. Chandrasekhar asserted that he has never met Jayarajan and that these allegations are baseless.

Jayarajan's Controversial Statement and Subsequent Retraction

The allegations against Jayarajan stem from his earlier statement in which he reportedly claimed that the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Kerala would primarily be a contest between the LDF and the BJP, suggesting that the saffron party has stronger candidates. This statement was later retracted by Jayarajan and other senior Left leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPIM State Secretary M V Govindan.

Satheesan Reiterates Allegations, Accuses Vijayan of Knowledge

In a press conference held later in the evening, Satheesan reiterated his allegations against Jayarajan and linked his praise for BJP candidates to his alleged business connections with Chandrasekhar. Satheesan further accused Chief Minister Vijayan of being aware of Jayarajan's links and his pro-BJP remarks. He claimed that there is a contract between Chandrasekhar's company and an establishment belonging to a member of Jayarajan's family.

Kerala to Vote in Lok Sabha Polls on April 26

The state of Kerala will participate in the Lok Sabha polls on April 26, and these allegations have added a layer of intrigue to the electoral landscape.