NEW DELHI: CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday said that it has been proved in Goa that the Congress cannot defend the BJP. He was replying to a remark made by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"No one can say that CPM is allowing BJP to grow. It was the CPM that closed the only account of the BJP in Kerala. Meanwhile, in Goa, Congress MLAs joined the BJP en masse. Bharat Jodo Yatra is an internal program of Congress. It is the CPM that organizes more such trips to interact directly with the people. We are organising a program this month in which several farmers will participate. Meanwhile, everyone knows the intention behind Congress' 18-day trip in Kerala." Yechury said.

"There will be anti-BJP alliances and electoral understandings at the state level aiming at a broad secular coalition. The change of power in Bihar will give momentum to the anti-BJP movement. DMK in Tamil Nadu and TRS in Telangana are strengthening the anti-BJP front. LDF and UDF are on opposite sides as the BJP is irrelevant in Kerala. The government formation discussions of the opposition parties should take place after the elections. We are condemning the BJP's move to observe September 17 as 'Hyderabad Liberation Day'. The move is to portray liberation from Nizam rule as communal," he added.