Expressing displeasure over BJP’s choice for presidential candidate, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said “Ram Nath Kovind is not a consensus candidate. The BJP has not disclosed his name during consultation with the other parties and so we do not agree to it. Now it is up to our party higher-ups and other Opposition parties to decide on the issue.”
Mr. Vijayan was here on Tuesday to inaugurate a three-day national conference of Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch.
Speaking to The Hindu , the Kerala Chief Minister not only disagreed with the BJP’s choice of presidential candidate but went on to say, “Keeping aside the caste equations that BJP is playing, we must see that Mr. Ram Nath is from Sangh Parivar, a thing that we have been opposing since beginning.”
He criticised the BJP’s role in banning beef eating and slaughter house issues. “Food habit is our fundamental right and no party has the right to encroach upon,” he said
Though he sounded positive on the Centre-Kerala relations, he was apprehensive about the implementation of GST. “As far as Kerala is concerned there is no problem with the GST, as we are a consuming state,” he said.
On Andhra-Kerala relations, Mr. Vijayan said, “There is bonhomie between both the States and we would like to work together on many fronts, including tourism. But primarily, we have asked AP to supply rice to Kerala. The rice brands from AP are very popular in Kerala. I have already spoken to AP Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy regarding bulk supply of rice.”
