Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: In the wake of assessments that minority consolidation helped the UDF (Congress-led) in Malabar and other regions during the local body elections, the ruling CPM has brought the Congress government’s alleged “bulldozer raj” in Karnataka into political focus in Kerala.

The demolition of more than 200 houses in Bengaluru’s Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout by the Karnataka government has given the CPM a fresh political plank. The CPM has accused the Congress government of following the BJP model, citing the “bulldozer raj”. Questions have surfaced on social media on whether Rahul Gandhi’s ‘shop of love’ has been been shut down.

CPM leader AA Rahim alleged at a press conference on Sunday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had turned into a replica of Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister). Asking what difference remained between the BJP and the Congress, Rahim also displayed photographs of the demolished colonies. Rahim’s recent visit to Bengaluru was undertaken as per the directive of the CPM leadership.

The visit by a CPM MP — a party allied with the Congress in the INDIA bloc — and the criticism of the Karnataka government over the “bulldozer raj” became major news in Kannada and national media.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s criticism of the demolition of areas inhabited by Muslims for years also angered Deputy Chief Minister (Karnataka) D.K. Shivakumar. He responded by saying that the Kerala government should not interfere in Karnataka’s internal matters and that Pinarayi Vijayan should understand the ground reality.

Minister MB Rajesh accused the Congress of adopting the BJP’s “cruel methods”. However, IUML (ally of UDF in Kerala) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty said Karnataka was not following the UP model. Congress leaders have not responded in detail till now.