THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP is in a tricky situation over the revelation of O Rajagopal MLA that the controversial Congress-League-BJP alliance was a reality after former RSS mouthpiece editor R Balashankar alleged the BJP and CPM colluded over the Chengannur seat.

While Balashankar's allegation was being used as a propaganda weapon by the UDF, Rajagopal's statement gave the issue to the CPM to retaliate. Earlier, Rajagopal had said that the party had tried the Co-Le-B alliance in the local body elections and the BJP had benefitted from it. He said it was with the knowledge of the central leadership, and such adjustments that benefit the party are not wrong. Moreover, Rajagopal's reiteration that K Muraleedharan is a strong candidate was embarrassing for BJP including Nemom candidate Kummanam Rajasekharan.

While the BJP was trying to call out Balashankar's allegation as an emotional reaction to his failure to get a seat in Chengannur, the words from their senior leader proved to be a setback. Meanwhile, the LDF and UDF are in the process of using the BJP leaders' statement as a propaganda weapon against each other. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan scoffed at party state president K Surendran's claim that the BJP would rule Kerala if 35 candidates manage to win, saying the rest could be taken from the Congress.

Balashankar alleged that the BJP was fielding weak candidates in Aranmula and Chengannur to help K Surendran in Konni. The UDF leaders followed suit, saying that their allegation that there was a CPM-BJP pact across the state to ensure the left government retains their power. The CPM came with a counterattack, citing examples from Puducherry and Tripura, to prevent this and to keep the minority vote banks close.

Meanwhile, the Congress and the BJP are moving to seize the golden opportunity given by CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury to lash out at the Left Front and the Chief Minister for upholding the Sabarimala women's admission verdict and rejecting Kadakampally's regret.