Twenty20’s decision to join NDA driven by corporate interests, alleges Congress

The Twenty20 party is nothing more than a damp firecracker, and Sabu M. Jacob’s entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is solely for the benefit of his company, Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Muhammad Shiyas has said.

Mr. Jacob, who claimed to be “apolitical,” had formed the Twenty20 party by accusing all political parties in Kerala of being corrupt, opportunistic, and nepotistic. Until the recent local body elections, he repeatedly dismissed the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] as “useless”, while sparing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Now, he has joined the BJP camp, a move that amounts to pawning the votes of the people, which he had secured under the banner of “apoliticism”, Mr. Shiyas said.

“Mr. Jacob has now aligned himself with the BJP, a party accused of unleashing brutal violence against religious minorities, Dalits, and backward communities, while sabotaging development projects, undermining democracy, and insulting the Constitution. After the local body elections, the Congress had predicted that Twenty20 would eventually join the BJP as Mr. Jacob had no other option in the face of the Left’s decline. Since the BJP is known for bending rules to favour corporates, it is the most suitable place for a corporate businessman like Sabu Jacob. His move is entirely driven by business interests,” Mr. Shiyas alleged.

“After the parliamentary elections, Mr. Jacob even insulted voters and accused them of being ungrateful despite benefiting from food kits. In Puthencruz and Vadavucode, Twenty20 workers independently supported the Congress, and that will continue,” Mr. Shiyas said. He also noted that not all Twenty20 members in Kunnathunadu would join the BJP; many would move to Congress. The Twenty20 party has already collapsed, and Mr. Jacob should apologise to the people of Kunnathunadu, Mr. Shiyas said

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee vice president V.P. Sajeendran said that Mr. Jacob’s move would only bring him losses. Many local leaders have completely distanced themselves from the party, and several have expressed interest in joining the Congress, Mr. Sajeendran added.