Kerala CM Accuses INDI Alliance Partner Congress Of Fielding Kathua Rape Accused's Supporter From Jammu's Udhampur Seat

In last month's political move, Chaudhary Lal Singh returned to the Congress and has been nominated to contest from the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, his re-entry into the party has sparked controversy, with Congress' INDI Alliance partner and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticising fielding Singh, who was allegedly supportive of the accused in the 2018 Kathua rape and murder case.

Vijayan also accused the Congress of not taking a strong stand against the Sangh Parivar, highlighting Rahul Gandhi's welcoming of Singh into the party as per a report by Hindustan Times.

Notably, despite being alliance partners at pan national level, both Congress and Left are fighting election against each other in Kerala.

Singh, a former BJP leader, had previously won twice from Udhampur as a Congress candidate in 2004 and 2009 before switching to the BJP in 2014.

He has also served as an MLA in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly multiple times.

Singh's tenure in the BJP was marked by controversy, particularly his involvement in a rally supporting the accused in the Kathua case.

He later resigned from the BJP and formed the DSSP before rejoining the Congress.

The Lok Sabha elections in Udhampur are scheduled for April 19, while voting in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir will take place in subsequent phases.