India, March 23 -- In a sharp escalation of political rhetoric ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal on Sunday launched a direct attack on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging a covert understanding between the ruling Left and the BJP.

Addressing reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Venugopal asserted that the United Democratic Front (UDF) is contesting the upcoming elections not to project a chief ministerial face, but to deliver what he described as a "people-driven mandate for change."

Venugopal accused the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) of maintaining a "secret pact" with the BJP to weaken the opposition. He claimed that this alleged nexus is reflected in candidate selection...