Kerala BJP president and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for announcing welfare schemes just before the elections, alleging that it reflects his attitude of treating the poor as a vote bank.

He said the BJP supports any party that genuinely works to uplift the poor but accused the state government of using them for political gain.

Chandrasekhar also hit out at Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, stating that she does not understand the National Education Policy (NEP) and is misleading minorities by claiming that the policy is aimed at brainwashing children.