Thiruvananthapuram, July 17 (IANS): With local bodies polls in Kerala barely three months away, the BJP and Congress are using their respective power to target CPI-M leaders to keep them behind bars, a senior CPI-M leader said here on Friday.

Talking to reporters, state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said both the parties were doing their best to ensure that the CPI-M leaders remained enmeshed in various cases registered against them.

"The state BJP is using the Centre to use the CBI, while the Congress government in the state is using its own powers. They know that if they are able to keep our state and district-level leaders behind bars, it will be beneficial to them in the local bodies elections," Balakrishnan added.

The local bodies elections are likely to be held in October as all new elected local bodies have to assume office latest by November 1.

The CPI-M has turned jittery as one of their senior state leaders P. Jayarajan is facing the heat from the CBI and is waiting to hear from a court on the anticipatory bail plea moved by him fearing arrest.

The CBI has already questioned Jayarajan in the murder of an RSS activist Kathirur Manoj last year. According to CBI sources, Jayarajan is likely to be arrested if the court denies him anticipatory bail.

Incidentally, early this week, Jayarajan was given leave from the post of Kannur district secretary by the party, after he underwent an angioplasty and the doctors advised him rest.