INDIA bloc not a front, it is a platform against BJP: Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday, 23 April, said the INDIA bloc was not a front, but a system of opposition political parties that has come up as a platform against the ruling BJP at the Centre.

The statement by Vijayan comes amidst an intense fight between the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF -- both INDIA bloc partners -- in Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the state on 26 April.

At a press meet in Kannur, he said during the LS polls, alliances were being formed in various states as part of the platform and its result was that the BJP was being largely isolated.

"There is also a strong public sentiment against the BJP in the country," he added.

A final decision would be taken regarding the bloc's next step only after the polls after analysing the prevailing situation, the Marxist veteran said in response to a query as to whether the partners in the INDIA bloc were moving towards the goal for which the front was created.

On being asked whether Rahul Gandhi was the prime ministerial candidate of the bloc, Vijayan said that the Congress has not made any decision about it yet.

Vijayan said as far as the Left front was concerned, after all the parties against the BJP win in the polls, at that time a decision would be taken on who would be the leader of the INDIA bloc.