THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came down heavily on Yogi Adityanath for criticising Kerala as part of Uttar Pradesh polls. If UP becomes like Kerala, the living standards of the people there will rise.

There will be better education and health facilities. No one would be killed in the name of religion and caste. This is what the people of UP want, tweeted Pinarayi Vijayan.

Voting is progressing in 8 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh today. Yogi’s statement ahead of the polls stoked a controversy. Yogi had earlier stated that if the voters make a mistake, UP will become Kashmir, Kerala or Bengal and vote for the BJP to ensure a fearless life. Soon after that, Shashi Tharoor, Sitaram Yechury and V D Satheesan had criticized Yogi.