Malappuram (Kerala) | As Nilambur goes to the polls on Thursday, a fresh debate has erupted in the constituency over an alleged understanding between the CPI(M) and the Jan Sangh, the early incarnation of the BJP, during the 1970s.

While Congress-UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath said that there are considerable chances of more such alliances being formed even now, CPI(M)-LDF candidate M Swaraj stated that it was with the Janata Party--not the Jan Sangh--that the Left had cooperated at the time.

People with divergent ideologies had become part of the Janata Party during that period, he added.

While speaking to reporters here, Shoukath claimed that the Communist Party had openly admitted in the past to having formed an alliance with the RSS-linked Jan Sangh in at least three or four states as early as 1967, in a bid to bring down the then Congress ministry from power.

He asserted that this was clearly mentioned in their political document.

"The chances of such alliances being forged in the future are 100 per cent," Shoukath claimed.

However, Swaraj said that it was not with the BJP or the Jan Sangh, but with the Janata Party that the Left had joined hands decades ago.

The CPI(M) state secretariat member also clarified that Marxist stalwart and the state's first elected Chief Minister, E M S Namboodiripad, had later declared that they did not want RSS votes, after allegations emerged that the Janata Party was being controlled by the RSS.

Swaraj further alleged that it was the Congress which had later cooperated with the RSS-controlled Janata Party.

The Marxist party has always had a history of upholding secular values and opposing communalism, he added.

With just months left for the Pinarayi Vijayan government to complete its second consecutive term in office, the by-election in Nilambur has become a prestigious battle for both the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the opposition Congress-led UDF.

The bypoll is scheduled to be held on 19 June, with counting set to take place on 23 June.