Friends In Bengal, Left-Congress Battle Surges In Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The dividing line between friends and foes is thin enough in politics. But it becomes tricky when two parties are allies in one state - and bitter opponents in another, at the same time. The case in point - the Left and the Congress. The two parties are bitter enemies in Kerala, which votes next Monday. In Bengal, where assembly polls just got over, they are allies.

The speeches of leaders of the ruling Congress-led UDF and Left-led LDF are full of references to leaders from the opposite camp - references that are far from complimentary.

Left leader VS Achutanandan -- who is also its Chief Ministerial candidate -- has repeatedly accused Chief Minister Oommen Chandy of involvement in corruption. Mr Chandy has retaliated, saying he would take legal action against him for his comments.

But in West Bengal, the two parties are in a cozy partnership. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has even shared stage with former Left leader and former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Politicians from both sides have tried to rationalise this situation - sometimes with an example of the opposite camp.

In Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the BJP have a deal. In Kerala, the Congress is helping the BJP on some seats, Left's Sitaram Yechury told NDTV. "In Kerala, the Congress has given the worst government, besmirched with corruption.  Kerala, which was known internationally for its clean image, is now known for corruption," he added.