BJP accuses Congress of 'double standards' over ex-CEO's appointment

BJP's V Muraleedharan accused Congress of 'double standards' over the appointment of former Kerala CEO Rathan Kelkar as Secretary to CM V D Satheesan, questioning if it was a 'favour returned' for UDF's election victory.

Bharatiya Janata Party legislator and former Union Minister V Muraleedharan, on Sunday, accused the Congress party of "double standards" following the appointment of Keralam's Chief Electoral Officer Rathan Kelkar as the Secretary to the Chief Minister V D Satheesan. Addressing reporters, Muraleedharan asked whether the administrative appointment was a "favour returned" for assisting the United Democratic Front (UDF) in winning 100 seats in the State assembly.

BJP Invokes West Bengal Parallel, Targets Rahul Gandhi

The BJP recently targeted Rahul Gandhi for his criticism of the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal for appointing former State CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal as Chief Secretary. The Bharatiya Janata Party invoked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks over freedom of the Election Commission, and alleged that Kelkar's appointment was a "reward" for the party's victory in the Keralam Assembly elections.

Muraleedharan demanded that Rahul Gandhi either apologise to West Bengal's citizens regarding past electoral allegations or openly admit that the Election Commission helped the Congress-led UDF coalition secure its victory in Kerala. "The appointment of Rathan Kelkar as the Secretary of the CM indicates the double standards of Congress. We want to ask Congress whether it is a returned favour for helping them win 100 seats in the Keralam Assembly, either Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people and govt of West Bengal for the allegations, or he should accept that in Keralam, UDF was helped by EC to win the elections," said Muraleedharan.

Keralam BJP posted on Facebook, "Ratan Kelkar, the former Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, has been appointed as the Secretary to Chief Minister VD Satheesan. According to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's logic, Ratan Kelkar's appointment is to be seen as a reward for the huge victory achieved by the Congress in Kerala. The Congress should stop this kind of politics that is misleading the people."(ANI)

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