BJP voting for CPI-M shows tie-up between the two: Chennithala

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Friday said that the lone BJP member in the Assembly, O Rajagopal, voting for the CPI-M in the Speaker election clearly showed that there had been a tie-up between the two parties.

"This is the best example of a tie-up between these two parties. We had made it clear we did not need the help of Rajagopal and also (independent) P.C. George," Chennithala told reporters.

Rajgopal, 86, fired his own salvo, saying he wanted to respect Chennithala's wish that the UDF did not want one BJP vote.

"I did not want to displease him. I decided to vote for Sreeramakrishnan because I liked his style and he is a long time friend of mine," said Rajagopal.

The BJP veteran said his stand in the assembly will be issue based and "there will be no blind opposition, nor will there be any blind support."

Asked about P. Sreeramakrishnan getting a UDF vote, Chennithala acknowledged the "leak" of one vote.

"We don't think that this was a deliberate attempt, but nevertheless we will look into it," he said.