Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claims there is a “pro-LDF wave” in all 20 seats

What are your thoughts on the state’s chances of winning the Lok Sabha election with just one week to go?

The Congress ran its 2019 campaign on the platform that Rahul Gandhi should lead the government if the party is elected into power. The BJP is opposed by most Keralites. In doing so, the UDF achieved a significant win. Nevertheless, Kerala’s issues were not brought up by the UDF MPs in Parliament.

The RSS program has been openly carried out by the second Modi administration. One such action was the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Kerala has always responded to these challenges with force. In an attempt to defend the secular ideals we uphold, the UDF MPs did not speak out. The Congress vanished from view after several Left leaders were taken into custody.

The decision was made to go with a coordinated demonstration in Kerala as well. However, Congress took a step back. Similarly, the Congress said nothing on matters like J&K’s special status, which was also predicated on the RSS agenda. Numerous politicians in Congress have a Sangh parivar mentality.

Kerala’s problems, such as the state’s financial crisis and the urgent need for federal support, were never brought up by the UDF MPs. They have never once sided with the state and have always backed the Center. To put it simply, the BJP is against Kerala. The UDF supports this strategy. Voters would be rejecting this anti-Kerala stance. Pro-LDF sentiment is prevailing in every constituency.

The Prime Minister has been criticizing you in his most recent statements.

It’s not directed at me. It’s a component of a prejudiced strategy against Kerala. Kerala disavows the hateful ideology. The BJP’s main grievance is that. Political groups that oppose them are so singled out. It also occurs in other states. We entered politics with no expectation of reciprocation. Our actions should be morally just; that is our sole goal. I’m confident in saying that, so far, that dedication has been flawless. That’s why I can handle any resistance. The PM need to consider whether statements like this are appropriate for the role he plays.

Do you consider the next LS election to be a referendum on the state’s LDF government?

Elections to the Lok Sabha are often an evaluation of national concerns. However, it is only fitting that the actions of the state administration be brought up during an election. That doesn’t worry us in the least. The main emphasis is on the difficulties the nation faces, such as the threats to democracy, secularism, independence, unity, and national integration. The nation is in jeopardy. UDF MPs have never acted appropriately in the face of such serious threats. This will be an evaluation of their performance and methodology.

Why is the only campaign issue you have included in this poll is CAA? Congress claims you have nothing to show off as accomplishments of the government.

During the Nava Kerala Sadas, I gave a speech on administration and governance. We shouldn’t be discussing it right now. This time, it’s the problems the nation is facing and how Congress is handling them. How our nationhood is being targeted for destruction… Since the BJP is carrying it out, criticism is directed at the party. The Congress is criticized for not taking a stance against the BJP.

How is the electorate feeling overall?

Nowadays, there is a widespread belief in the nation that the BJP has to be removed. After the elections, it will be possible to determine what is best for the nation after the BJP is overthrown. Leaders will emerge and appropriate choices will be made based on the post-election reality. First and foremost, we must defeat the BJP. That is the strategy used in every state.

You have been adamant about defeating the BJP from the beginning. Do you really have that much confidence?

The desperation of the BJP administration is growing every day. It is exerting every effort to hold onto power. It is taking extreme actions that go beyond what is reasonable. Such activities will not be endorsed by the public. Of course, the BJP has been having serious problems, especially in areas where they say they have a lot of support. There is a growing backlash against the BJP nationwide as a result of long-simmering discontent, demonstrations, and opposition to such capricious actions. To put it simply, a nationwide anti-BJP movement is emerging.

You refer to Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, right?

Indeed. The sole criticism of Kejriwal is Sarath Chandra Reddy’s comment. A businessman often wants to resolve an issue as quickly as possible when he is engaged in it. The ED allegedly asked him to identify someone. Two top ministers are now detained. It’s a rather peculiar circumstance. These two would be deemed innocent right away if they chose to abruptly switch to the BJP. We’ve seen several examples of them. Does anybody remember such overt mistreatment of the system’s components in the past?

Why are the courts dismissing his claims if his arrest was unjustified?

That is a crucial aspect. Courts operate in accordance with the established legal system. However, when the legal system is abused, our nation’s courts—particularly the Supreme Court—should step in and conduct an investigation. The CPM brought this up. Courts are aware of this as well. Several of their comments suggest this. Courts have sometimes voiced their displeasure with the ED in this respect.

Are you implying that the courts have started to see that the legal system is being abused?

The courts are aware of the abuses occurring inside the system. Supreme Court justices have publicly expressed their opposition to efforts to meddle in the legal system.

The CPM has ties to the INDIA bloc at the national level. Will the INDIA coalition secure a majority, in your opinion?

It is not considered an alliance by the CPM. It’s more of a plan to pull together all of the secular parties so they can band together to oppose the BJP. The goal in each state will be to defeat the BJP. In this endeavor, the regional parties will be crucial players. In some instances, the Congress will also need to assume the position of a junior partner or the main partner.

The CPM platform promises to eliminate contentious laws like the UAPA. However, despite the CPM’s stance, one of the main criticisms leveled against you is the LDF government’s widespread imposition of UAPA.

Generally speaking, the party has long opposed enforcing UAPA. However, under some situations, it could be necessary to enforce such a legislation. It is unavoidable. Therefore, we must take great care to verify that it is not being abused. It is only enforced upon examination by a judge-led committee. We have never applied the UAPA hastily.

There has been much talk about the cyberattack on Vadakara candidate K K Shailaja. How appealing is this kind of trend?

These are two distinct things: personal assaults and cyberattacks. A personal assault is being made on Shailaja, the instructor. It’s just plain hooliganism. Things like these are unacceptable. I would want to inform the leadership of Congress that efforts to legitimize such conduct should not be undertaken. Cyberattacks are an other matter entirely. People on social media post such illogical things. Legal action ought to be taken when needed. But until we make a call as a group, we are unable to effectively stop such atrocities. These kinds of superficial slanders should be categorically rejected when it comes to assaults against Shailaja. Based on accounts, there were a few well-known Youth Congress members engaged.

Is political violence returning to Kerala? In light of the Panur bombing, may I ask you a question?

It’s hard to argue that such a significant change has occurred—peace is the norm here. The latest explosion, meanwhile, indicates that the propensity is still there. The government will prosecute those responsible with great severity. We cannot allow “bomb culture” to exist in the political sphere.

In Kerala, the BJP hoped to gain significant traction in at least five seats. What is the BJP’s probability in this case?

In all twenty of Kerala’s seats, the BJP will not even finish in second place. They will have severe deficits in several seats.

Is the party particularly optimistic about Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram?

In both of these seats, the BJP will undoubtedly finish in bad third place.

The ED has been pursuing the CPM and you consistently. Thomas Isaac and you appear to be getting closer to the celebration. Do you fear that the ED will trap you? Do you own such an indication?

I’ve not received any such information. Nothing that may lead them to me has occurred so far. There had been evident signs earlier as well, as if the ED was standing outside their door, but they eventually faded (laughs).

Isaac, what about him?

The court questioned why this particular stance is being adopted. Following RBI approval, the Masala Bond was released. Their time of validity is gone. The funds have been returned. No anomalies were found. It’s unlawful for the ED to pursue this case in the first place. Isaac was not uniquely tasked with handling this as the state finance minister. The specialists on the board made the decision. We want to cooperate with any investigation agency. However, it shouldn’t behave with political intent.

Is your daughter’s CMRL case being handled in a way that is politically motivated?

It’s a distinct problem. There is a deal going on between two businesses. All information is accessible via the accounts of these two businesses. Income Tax authorities have received all of these facts. A legal transaction is being investigated for alleged lack of openness. It’s clear that entrenched interests are driving this.

Is there an effort to go after you specifically?

(Laughs). Many will have several wishes. There has always been a subset of individuals that behave and think negatively about me. Others gravitate to these kinds of individuals. I have clean hands. People are aware of that. Thus, such desires will stay that way.

Are you certain that the investigating authorities won’t pursue you?

There’s no reason whatsoever for them to pursue me under regular conditions.

However, as you said, these are not typical times.

If an exceptional circumstance like this occurs, we’ll decide what to do. Given the circumstances, we can now converse (laughs).

The Karuvannur fraud has being pursued by the ED.

Kerala’s cooperative industry has been operating in an admirable manner. The government wants to keep the industry’s reputation intact. I think there may have been some mistakes made in this instance. The stance of the government is evident. With such individuals, no concessions will be made. Strict measures will be implemented. However, we will not allow this cooperative group to be dismantled. We’ll safeguard the industry. The ED in Karuvannur found nothing new.They only increased its visibility. That’s it. If we examine Gujarat’s cooperative industry, we see that the BJP did not succeed in safeguarding it. It has even been criticized by the RBI.

According to the Congress, Rahul Gandhi is starting to take the lead in the INDIA bloc.

That doesn’t seem accurate to me. Rahul Gandhi is a well-known figure as the Congress’s leader. Being the INDIA bloc leader will be chosen upon at a later time.

A K Antony and his son engaged in a verbal battle the other day. Subsequently, T G Nandakumar made some claims.

There are several things in this that might affect A. K. Antony. I do not want to bring it up in relation to elections. Naturally, such material acquires credibility when it is leaked and then confirmed by a few congressional leaders.