Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], April 10 (ANI): Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the BJP‘s candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, said on Wednesday that a false narrative was propagated against BJP generating fear among the people of Kerala but PM Modi during his ten year tenure proved it wrong.
Rajeev told ANI, “For many years, people have been poisoned that the BJP is a north Indian and a communal party. In Kerala, there are many Muslims and Christians and they have been made fearful of the BJP for several years. But the last 10 years of Narendra Modi ji have shown how every Indian, regardless of religion, gender and caste, has benefited from various programmes and schemes. People are beginning to pierce through the lies of Congress and the left.”
Further, Chandrasekhar asserted that the Thiruvananthapuram seat should now be considered as where the VIPs will clash but it is a contest between two ideologies. “I don’t know why this is a VIP seat. I think most importantly, it amounts to a seat where there has been a sitting MP for 15 years and nothing has happened in the area. I am a candidate who is determined to bring progress, development, investment, and jobs to the people of Thiruvananthapuram. I don’t see this as a clash of VIPs but rather a contest between two ideologies. One is Narendra Modi’s politics of performance, moving the country forward and giving them more opportunities and on the other side is Congress, which has promised so many things in the last many years but has done nothing,” he said.
The Union Minister of State also pointed out that there is concern among the people of Kerala and Thiruvananthapuram about law and order and an increase in extremism in some parts of the state.
“Recently, the CPM government even allowed the Hamas founder to address Muslim youths, which I opposed because our children, whether they are Muslims, Christians or Hindus, should never be radicalised. Mr Vijayan and Rahul Gandhi are in a race to prove to the Muslim community who is more anti-BJP. Pinarayai Vijayan is the head of the government, which is being told by the Supreme Court that they have mismanaged the economy and have not paid salaries to their employees. Rather than discussing real issues, classic old-type politicians like Vijayan will change the topic to communalism,” Rajeev Chandrasekhar added.
It is noteworthy that the constituency of Thiruvananthapuram will go to the polls on April 26 during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. This constituency in Kerala is being closely watched due to a high-profile contest between the Congress‘ Shashi Tharoor and the BJP‘s Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held across seven phases, starting April 19. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.
“Will not remain quiet if anyone speaks lies about me”: Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tharoor’s allegations
Coming hard on Congress candidate for Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor over his “false” claims, Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday that if anybody tells lies about him, he will not remain quiet and will use all the tools under the purview of law to ensure that person is held accountable. In an interview with ANI, Chandrasekhar said that Tharoor, in his desperation, has flung a lot of allegations at him.
“I think Mr Tharoor, in his desperation, has flung a lot of allegations at me. One of them was that I am paying money for votes and I have said very clearly that I will not be drawn into this kind of politics. However, if anybody trespasses and says lies about me, I will not be quiet. I will use all the tools under the law to ensure that person is held accountable,” he said.
Further, sharpening his attacks on the Congress, Chandrasekhar said that the Congress has devouid of competing ideas for development and progress. “The Congress party has no competing ideas for development and progress. Since they have no idea how to compete with us, they will always resort to politics of lies. I welcome the EC’s investigation and the Congress party will be proved wrong.
Throughout my 18 years of public life, I have an absolutely stellar record. I did not have to resign from the government due to my IPL interests like some MPs had,” Rajeev said. In 2010, Shashi Tharoor resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs in wake of the controversy over the IPL Kochi franchise.
The BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram emphasised that he is focused on taking the youths of the constituency forward and making sure there are more skills and investments in the area. “Shashi Tharoor and Pannian Raveendran are old types of politicians. People who have made many promises but delivered nothing. I have a fresh approach to politics in Thiruvananthapuram. I make commitments and deliver to those. I do what I say. I am focused on taking the youth of Thiruvananthapuram forward, making sure there are more and more skills, investments and jobs,” he said.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar also highlighted that it is the election for who is going to be the Prime Minister. The primary consideration is to vote for and support PM Modi in his third term. (ANI)
