Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with President Pranab Mukherjee. (Press Trust of India photo)
Kozhikode:
CPI(M) is the main opponent of Congress in Kerala, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said, notwithstanding the strategy his party will adopt in West Bengal vis-a-vis the Left in the coming election.
"Politically CPM is there. BJP is not such a threat," he told reporters in Kozhikode yesterday when asked which was the 'enemy number one' for the party keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Exuding confidence of getting a favourable verdict in the polls, Mr Chandy said he was not "bothered" what the party's stand will be with respect to the Left in West Bengal.
"We are not at all bothered about coalition in West Bengal (between the Left and Congress). That is up to the state unit and high command (of Congress) to take a decision. We are fighting with our own strengths and confidence (in Kerala)," he said.
Mr Chandy said the most important factor for his party to retain power is the unity with coalition partners of United Democratic Front (UDF) and the stability his government had provided in the state in the last five years.
"I am quite confident (of Congress winning the polls). First thing, we started the government with two MLAs and then everybody said we will last maximum 6 months but we are completing five years without any controversy. We took our own decisions... (There were) no controversies. People count the stability of the government. We are not spending time and spending power at the cost of the people.
"The second factor is our unity, Congress and the UDF. The entire party and the UDF is going together. I am fully satisfied and I am getting full support from my party and the UDF," Mr Chandy said after President Pranab Mukherjee initiated a number of e-enabled projects aimed at making Kerala the first digital state of the country.
When asked who amongst Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi would he give credit for party's success in the state, the chief minister said they both were equally important.
"There is no difference between Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji," he said.
Acknowledging that there could be "some differences" within the party and the government, Mr Chandy said he will take everyone along.
"We will take into confidence everybody. We will not ignore anybody. We will try our best to keep the sentiments of all the people. Problem is created when we are insulting, ignoring (someone). Our motto (while governing Kerala) was development and care and in both cases we did everything. People feel the difference in both areas," he said.
Mr Chandy said he will have no objection if Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president VM Sudheeran contests the upcoming polls.
"On what ground can we object (Sudheeran fighting polls)? If the leader is doing good work and if he and high command wants, he can contest very well," Mr Chandy said.
Talking about allegations of corruption including his name cropping up in solar scam case, Mr Chandy rejected the charges saying if even one per cent of these are correct, then he has "no right to hold this post and to continue in public life".
He said that the "whole story" and truth of this case will come out soon.
The chief minister said similar allegations of financial irregularities were made by the opposition during the conduct of the National Games last year and it was stated that his government and leaders will go to jail "like (ex-CWG chairman Suresh) Kalmadi" but the fact was that the sporting extravaganza was conducted at a "lower price".
He said while Kerala has "achieved a lot" in education and health sectors, it has shown "very poor performance" in the infrastructure sector, because of which there was "very low" investment in the state.
"So, everybody is going out, especially youngsters, after getting degree, they want a visa and go out. Now, mindset of people is changing.
"We must have our own development and our own investment, employment generation is necessary," he said.
"Politically CPM is there. BJP is not such a threat," he told reporters in Kozhikode yesterday when asked which was the 'enemy number one' for the party keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Exuding confidence of getting a favourable verdict in the polls, Mr Chandy said he was not "bothered" what the party's stand will be with respect to the Left in West Bengal.
"We are not at all bothered about coalition in West Bengal (between the Left and Congress). That is up to the state unit and high command (of Congress) to take a decision. We are fighting with our own strengths and confidence (in Kerala)," he said.
Mr Chandy said the most important factor for his party to retain power is the unity with coalition partners of United Democratic Front (UDF) and the stability his government had provided in the state in the last five years.
"I am quite confident (of Congress winning the polls). First thing, we started the government with two MLAs and then everybody said we will last maximum 6 months but we are completing five years without any controversy. We took our own decisions... (There were) no controversies. People count the stability of the government. We are not spending time and spending power at the cost of the people.
"The second factor is our unity, Congress and the UDF. The entire party and the UDF is going together. I am fully satisfied and I am getting full support from my party and the UDF," Mr Chandy said after President Pranab Mukherjee initiated a number of e-enabled projects aimed at making Kerala the first digital state of the country.
When asked who amongst Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi would he give credit for party's success in the state, the chief minister said they both were equally important.
"There is no difference between Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji," he said.
Acknowledging that there could be "some differences" within the party and the government, Mr Chandy said he will take everyone along.
"We will take into confidence everybody. We will not ignore anybody. We will try our best to keep the sentiments of all the people. Problem is created when we are insulting, ignoring (someone). Our motto (while governing Kerala) was development and care and in both cases we did everything. People feel the difference in both areas," he said.
Mr Chandy said he will have no objection if Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president VM Sudheeran contests the upcoming polls.
"On what ground can we object (Sudheeran fighting polls)? If the leader is doing good work and if he and high command wants, he can contest very well," Mr Chandy said.
Talking about allegations of corruption including his name cropping up in solar scam case, Mr Chandy rejected the charges saying if even one per cent of these are correct, then he has "no right to hold this post and to continue in public life".
He said that the "whole story" and truth of this case will come out soon.
The chief minister said similar allegations of financial irregularities were made by the opposition during the conduct of the National Games last year and it was stated that his government and leaders will go to jail "like (ex-CWG chairman Suresh) Kalmadi" but the fact was that the sporting extravaganza was conducted at a "lower price".
He said while Kerala has "achieved a lot" in education and health sectors, it has shown "very poor performance" in the infrastructure sector, because of which there was "very low" investment in the state.
"So, everybody is going out, especially youngsters, after getting degree, they want a visa and go out. Now, mindset of people is changing.
"We must have our own development and our own investment, employment generation is necessary," he said.
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