Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said here on Tuesday that “the Left Democratic Front (LDF) would not have any electoral understanding with the Jammat-e-Islami.”Participating in a Meet-the-Press programme, Mr. Achuthanandan, referring to the meeting between Jamaat leaders and CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, said “various organisations and different sections of people approached political parties during elections to express their problems. In this case, the Jammat leaders wanted to meet the CPI(M) State secretary and he heard their problems and views. That cannot be described as a poll pact with them,” he said.
To a question on the publication of a letter allegedly written by him to the CPI(M) Polit Bureau demanding an inquiry into the SNC Lavalin scam, Mr. Achuthanandan said: “these are cooked up stories that are usual on the eve of every election.”
In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said one cannot fix retirement age in politics. During the freedom struggle, the youth and the old fought together. In a parliamentary democracy, one cannot fix retirement age for politicians as in various other fields. In fact, there is no need to fix retirement age in politics, he said.
The Chief Minister listed out various development projects implemented in the State during the last five-year rule of the LDF. The Congress and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) prevented the government from distributing rice at Rs.2 a kg to all ration card holders in the State. This would have been a big relief to the people who are reeling under price rise brought about by the wrong policies of the Union government. The UDF fears that the LDF could get more support with such popular schemes and hence is putting hurdles to its implementation, the Chief Minister said.
He said the LDF would take stern steps against corruption and sex rackets. The LDF government, if returned to power, would make the State safer for women by taking stern action against their oppressors, the Chief Minister said.
