Media reports distorted my comments, says Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: Terming the media reports on his remarks at Kuttanad was baseless, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Saturday alleged some people had tried to create controversy dragging a portion of his speech.

Chandy said he was reacting to CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram yechuri’s comment that the Congress was trying to make alliance with the BJP.

“There are some constituencies like Manjeswaram and Kasargod where the Congress stands at the first. The BJP comes in the second position in those constituencies. The trend can be seen in some other constituencies. The CPI(M) is not the picture where the BJP candidates are strong,” he said.

“The Congress is the only party that can counter the BJP at the national level,” he added.

CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan earlier in the day had reacted to Chandy's remarks saying that it was part of Chandy's secret tie-up with RSS to allow BJP's entry into the assembly.

Countering this, BJP State President Kummanom Rajasekharan had said Chandy's remark showed BJP's strength in the state has been recognised.