Thiruvananthapuram, March 26 -- A sharp political fight has broken out in Kerala ahead of the Assembly elections, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front of having a "hidden partnership" with the BJP. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected the charge and called the Congress the "B-team" of the BJP.

The exchange has added heat to the contest between the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Left Democratic Front, even as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance tries to project itself as a third option in the state.

Launching the UDF campaign from Kozhikode through video conferencing, Rahul Gandhi said the fight in Kerala is not three-sided. "There are actually only two sides fighting here in Keralam. One...