 "Why is Kerala CM Vijayan on a foreign holiday with family amid Lok Sabha elections?")
Millions of Indians began voting on 19 April to choose a new parliament for the next five years.
The 18th Lok Sabha election is taking place in seven phases.
Amid this mammoth elections, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan embarked on a three-nation trip with his family on Monday, 6 May.
The trip has triggered a row, with the Congress and the BJP questioning its timing and expenses.
Let’s take a closer look.
Kerala CM’s foreign trip
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with his wife Kamala and grandson Ishan, left the Kochi airport for a trip that will reportedly cover the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Singapore, as per Deccan Herald.
The trip abroad comes just 10 days after the southern state voted in the second phase of the general elections 2024 on 26 April, Friday.
According to the Indian Express, Vijayan’s son-in-law and state public works minister PA Mohammed Riyas has already left for a family holiday abroad a few days ago.
The 78-year-old leader, as per The Hindu, is expected to return on 21 May.
Since the tour is unofficial, the Chief Minister’s Office has not disclosed the CM’s itinerary.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHowever, they have revealed that he has not handed over the charge to any other minister.
“When he had been in the US for month-long medical treatment, the charge of the CM was not handed over to any of his Cabinet colleagues,” Indian Express quoted officials as saying.
Criticism
With four more election phases pending in other parts of the country, Vijayan’s three-nation trip has raised eyebrows.
Especially because at the national level, his Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) is part of the Opposition INDIA bloc, which is led by the Indian National Congress. He has not campaigned for the alliance outside the state.
In Kerala, Vijayan led the Left’s campaign against the Congress and BJP.
Both the BJP and the Congress have intensified their attack against the CM, and have sought answers on whether it was a sponsored trip, as per PTI.
The Congress also alleged that the Chief Minister was evading his responsibilities when a crucial general election was progressing in the country and the state had been reeling under an acute financial crunch.
KPCC Chief K Sudhakaran also criticised the CM over the trip and sought to know why he was taking his family members along.
“I suspect that it is a sponsored trip. Even if it is a sponsored trip, why is Vijayan keeping everything a secret? Why is he evading responsibility,” Sudhakaran asked.
Congress state vice president T Siddique said, “The CPI(M)’s agenda in this election was only to speak against Rahul Gandhi. After polling in Kerala is over, all CPI(M) leaders are resting. Vijayan has gone for a foreign tour. Why don’t they go to other states to campaign for the INDIA bloc? Their reluctance shows that the CPI(M)’s concern is limited to Kerala and to defeating Congress.”
The saffron party wanted to know who the sponsor of the trip was and why CM Vijayan, his son-in-law and minister Riyas didn’t hand over their official responsibilities to anyone.
BJP state president K Surendran questioned about the trip’s finance. He asked, “Can CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury or party state secretary MV Govindan say where Vijayan has gone?”
Coming down heavily on Vijayan, senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan alleged that the CM and his family were celebrating beach tourism when people fell down and died in scorching heat in Kerala.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: On Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan going on a foreign trip, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Attingal Lok Sabha seat, V Muraleedharan says, "Kerala CM with his son-in-law, who is also the state tourism minister, and his family are on a private tour… pic.twitter.com/SoQinWJH5F
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024
Comparing the Marxist veteran with Roman Emperor Nero (notorious for his extravagance), Muraleedharan urged CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and state secretary M V Govindan to explain their stance on the “lavish trip.”
“If it is a sponsored trip, let the people know who is sponsoring it. The CM and Public Works Minister will be away from the state for 19 days. Why was no press statement issued about the trip,” Muraleedharan asked while talking to reporters.
He wanted the Marxist party’s stance on the foreign tour when the state was facing a financial crisis.
CPI(M)’s response
CPI(M) strongly rejected the claims, with party central committee member AK Balan stating that many Congress leaders had also gone on private foreign tours while holding posts of chief minister and ministers.
LDF convener EP Jayarjan said Vijayan’s trip was undertaken as per norms.
“CM Vijayan is a person who strictly adheres to rules and regulations in every matter. He didn’t violate any rule in the case of the present foreign tour as well,” he told reporters, as per PTI.
He said the CM went abroad after informing the party and there is no need for him to share every detail with the media.
When asked about Vijayan’s absence from the campaign trail for Left candidates in other states, Jayarjan, according to Indian Express, said, “We (the party) will decide which leader will go where and speak.”
Voting in Kerala
The polling in Kerala took place in a single poll in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls 2024, along with 13 other states on 26 April.
Out of its 20 constituencies, two seats – Alathur and Mavelikara – are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.
From the Left Democratic Parties (LDF), the CPI(M) is contesting for 15 seats, the CPI for four seats and Kerala Congress M (KCEM) for one seat, as per The Hindu.
From the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Indian National Congress is contesting for 16 seats, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) for two seats, the Kerala Congress (KEC) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) for one seat.
While INC is leading the INDIA bloc, the LDF is extending its support to the alliance.
From the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the BJP is contesting for 16 seats and the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) for four seats.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
