Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar has accused the Congress party of adopting double standards on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that its stand in Kerala is in contrast to its criticism of the exercise in Delhi. 

 

Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi today, Mr Chandrasekhar alleged that the Congress and the CPI(M) were acting in coordination in Kerala and the Congress had sought to protect the CPI(M) from corruption-related investigations. He alleged that this was in return for CPI(M) support to the Congress in Delhi on the SIR issue. Mr Chandrasekhar claimed that the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and several Congress MLAs in Kerala had earlier welcomed the SIR, saying that it helped remove duplicate voters. He also alleged that the Chief Electoral Officer who conducted the exercise in Kerala was subsequently appointed as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Criticising Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress was raising controversies over the SIR in Delhi despite its earlier stand in Kerala. 

 

On youth-related issues, Mr Chandrasekhar alleged that the Congress government in Kerala had failed to protect the interests of young people and address the concerns of Public Service Commission, PSC rank holders who had been protesting for a long time. He also questioned the government’s action on alleged irregularities in the PSC. He described the Congress’s position on institutional independence and electoral reforms as contradictory.