Despite losing the recent Venkara Assembly by-polls, Kerala chief-minister Pinarayi Vijayan has warned the BJP in the State not to ‘mess’ with the people of the State who are literate enough to keep the BJP off power in the State.

The UDF won the Venkara by-polls defeating the ruling LDF nominee and relegating the BJP to the fourth position after the SDPI.  BJP, which hoped to make inroads in the State in general and in the Assembly by-polls in particular, had even roped in its national president Amit Shah and other prominent leaders to address a rally before the polling in the by-polls.

During the rally, BJP leaders hit out at the prevalent political situation in the State but despite the rhetoric, it has once again failed to make an impression on the people as it could only get the fourth spot after UDF, LDF and SDPI in Venkara by securing just 5,000-odd votes. Speaking at a ‘Democracy in Danger’ seminar in New Delhi, Vijayan used the form to launch a scathing attack on the BJP.

“BJP’s attempt to propagate hate-politics has bombed miserably. Kerala’s people would never prefer you (BJP) and the recent Assembly poll results are the best example in this regard. Henceforth, the BJP would do better not to mess with the people of the State who are literate enough to keep it at bay,” Vijayan said, thus triggering a fresh wave of exchange of words between the BJP and the Communists in the State.