Thrissur (Kerala): The political atmosphere in poll-bound Kerala has intensified following controversial remarks by B Gopalakrishnan, the BJP candidate for the Guruvayur constituency. The ruling CPM and the opposition Congress have both approached the Election Commission, alleging that Gopalakrishnan’s campaign video contains communal overtones designed to polarise voters.

The dispute centers on a video where Gopalakrishnan reportedly claimed that Guruvayur has not seen a Hindu MLA in nearly 50 years. He further alleged that both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have avoided fielding candidates from the Hindu community in the region.

Gopalakrishnan reportedly referred to the "land of Lord Guruvayurappan" as being in the hands of "temple thieves" for decades, asking rhetorically in the video, "Why was there no Hindu MLA in Guruvayur so far?"

Political backlash

Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan condemned the statements, asserting that Kerala’s strength lies in its communal harmony. He noted that Muslim-majority areas like Ponnani have elected Hindu MLAs, while Guruvayur has frequently elected Muslim representatives.

"It is the Election Commission that should take action against him. We have already filed a complaint in this regard," Satheesan told reporters.

The CPM Thrissur district secretary, Abdul Khader, echoed these sentiments, accusing the BJP of using divisive tactics. He argued that the town’s development was the result of secular efforts and questioned the contributions of Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi toward the Guruvayur Temple.

Legal and electoral action

Beyond formal complaints to the Election Commission, the Kerala Students' Union (KSU) has escalated the matter. KSU Thrissur district president, Gokul Guruvayoor, confirmed that a writ petition has been filed with the Kerala High Court seeking the candidate's disqualification. Similar complaints were lodged with the district collector and local police.

As of now, the BJP leadership has not issued an official response to the allegations.

PTI