Hundreds of Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists from across the district accorded a rousing reception to the Kerala Raksha Yatra led by party State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on its arrival in the city late on Wednesday evening.
Mr. Vijayan, who arrived at Marine Drive after addressing large crowds in Paravur, Kalamassery, Vypeen and Fort Kochi, was greeted by the activists with loud sloganeering and firework display.
Yatra team members E.P. Jayarajan, A. Vijayaraghavan, P.K. Sreemathy, M.V. Govindan, A.K. Balan, Elamaram Karim, and Baby John joined Mr. Vijayan on the podium decked in red. Party leaders from the district, including district secretary Dinesh Mani and CITU leader M.M. Lawrence former MP Sebastian Paul was also present on the occasion.
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Addressing the gathering, Mr. Vijayan said the Union railway budget was indeed a severe shock to the State and it just portends the ensuing annual budget of the government. “Even while facing the election, UPA government is continuing its anti-people policies. UDF government in the State is also not different,” he said.
Referring to the T P Chandrasekharan murder case, Mr Vijayan said the letter written by Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was a wrong step and the party has already taken a clear stand on it. He said the change of leadership in KPCC would not affect LDF’s prospects in the Lok Sabha elections.