Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 (IANS) Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Wednesday said things would be tough for opposition Congress leader Oommen Chandy as it was obvious that he was not in the good books of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

“Our party has no problems about who the leader is, instead all the confusion and problems are there in the Congress party. (Rahul) Gandhi does not favour Chandy, instead Ramesh Chennithala has got his blessings,” Balakrishnan told reporters here.

“This is evident from the number of candidates owing allegiance to Chennithala who have been given Congress tickets to contest the forthcoming assembly polls,” said Balakrishnan said.

He went on to add that in the recent history of the Congress in Kerala, never have the state party chief and the leader of opposition together contested the assembly polls.

“The fielding of Chennithala in assembly polls clearly shows that the performance of Chandy as the leader of opposition has not been up to the desired mark. And now with Gandhi fully supporting Chennithala, it is amply clear that the going for Chandy is going to get tougher,” added Balakrishnan.

Kerala goes to the polls April 13 to elect 140 legislators.

Balakrishnan said things are favourable for the Left government.

“We might have not done well in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and last year’s local bodies polls. That is a thing of the past because the Congress-led UPA government has been drowned in several scandals and that is going to work in our favour.

“We are demanding a second term because in the last five years, people have hugely benefitted here and never ever has a Left government ruled for a decade at one stretch. Give us a term more and analyse us in 2016,” said Balakrishnan.