The political battle in poll-bound Kerala is intensifying as a fierce war of words erupts between the Left and the Congress. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has taken a sharp swipe at Rahul Gandhi, calling the Congress a "B-team of the BJP."
In response, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hit back, claiming that a vote for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is effectively a vote for the BJP.
With both sides trading serious allegations-from political collusion to electoral desperation-the battle lines are clearly drawn ahead of the crucial April elections. Is Kerala heading for a high-stakes political showdown?