Thiruvananthapuram: Comments by Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan that communalism or conflict between religious groups was surfacing in the state has triggered a series of reactions from all political factions.
Achuthanandan hinted that Christian and Muslim fundamentalism was rearing its ugly head in Kerala.
Achuthanandan's party colleague and Communist Party of India Marxist state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the merger of the Kerala Congress J and M units had been masterminded by the church.
Vijayan said that the church ought to keep out of politics.
The Kerala Congress M unit chief K.M. Mani said Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to create a rift among the people of the state.
Assembly elections in Kerala are due one year from now, and the ruling and opposition parties have been at each other in recent weeks.
The merger of the Kerala Congress J and M has caused confusion in the United Democratic Front ranks. However, Kerala Congress M leader K.M. Mani has expressed optimism that the merger would only add to the party's strengths.
