Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district president K. Srikanth has alleged that the statement of Shankar Rai, Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s candidate in the Manjeswaram byelection, that he is an Ayyappa devotee is just to divide the Hindu votes. Mr. Srikanth told reporters at Kumbala here on Thursday that the statement was part of a conspiracy of the State and the district committee of the CPI(M) to divide the votes of Ayyappa devotees and help Indian Union Muslim League to comfortably win the election.
As a Communist, Mr. Rai is an atheist, he said. He also said that the CPI(M) was trying to cheat the people and the Ayyappa devotees.
Mr. Srikanth said that some CPI(M) leaders had been suspended for following religious practices and for going to Sabarimala. If Mr. Rai’s statement was true, he had gone to Sabarimala without the knowledge of the party. The change in the CPI(M) stance on Sabarimala was its final survival attempt.
He alleged an unholy alliance between the LDF and UDF to stop the NDA from winning the election.
