Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said here on Wednesday that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan's deeds did not match his words, and a person rejected by his own party could not be imposed upon the people.
Inaugurating the poll campaign of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala from Haripad constituency, Mr. Chandy said Mr. Achuthanandan had made tall claims about putting an end to corruption and exposing the “VIP” involved in the Kiliroor sex scandal. Not only has there been any visible attempt to root out corruption even from his own party, Mr. Achuthanandan has done a volte face on the Kiliroor case, stating that the court had prevented him from exposing the VIP in the case. He should clarify to the people which court had prohibited him from doing so, Mr. Chandy said.
He said the Chief Minister could not talk about any achievements of his government over the last five years, and hence was now saying that he would change the State in the next five years.
Stating that not a single person apart from those arrested by the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) government had been booked in the Kiliroor case, Mr. Chandy said sexual harassment cases were the highest in the last five years. The State had suffered major setbacks in development. He cited as proof the current state of affairs with regard to the SmartCity project.
He said Mr. Achuthanandan had been rejected by his own party in the initial stages of the CPI(M)'s candidate selection. No number of newspaper advertisements or inauguration and foundation stone-laying sprees would help the LDF get any votes.
He said the UDF's election manifesto, which would focus on development and welfare of the public, would be released in Thiruvananthapuram shortly.
Mr. Chennithala, UDF convener P.P. Thankachen, Union Minister of State for Power K.C. Venugopal, Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, AICC general secretary Shanimol Usman, K. Babu Prasad, MLA, and UDF district chairman C.R. Jayaprakash spoke.
