The month-long “Puthuyuga Yatra” led by Kerala’s Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, which commenced on February 6 from Kasaragod, is set to end in the state capital on Saturday. A large public rally, where Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will speak, will mark the culmination of the yatra. Satheesan announced that the final gathering will take place at Putharikandam Maidan, symbolizing the conclusion of the journey that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) believes reflects widespread public dissatisfaction with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
The yatra saw significant participation not only from party workers but also from ordinary citizens, including a considerable number of youth and women who actively engaged in the campaign across various districts. Satheesan emphasized that the march was not solely about criticizing the government but also involved extensive discussions on Kerala’s development and the necessary changes in crucial sectors. The journey delved into topics such as healthcare, higher education, agriculture, infrastructure development, the state’s economy, and the long-term development prospects of Kerala.
During the yatra, the UDF presented vision documents on healthcare and higher education as part of its initiatives. Satheesan mentioned that the leadership deliberately interacted with individuals from diverse sections of society in each district, intentionally inviting common citizens rather than prominent figures. Participants included individuals affected by the endosulphan tragedy, victims of wildlife attacks, agricultural laborers, anganwadi teachers, ASHA workers, lottery employees, pre-primary teachers, KSRTC pensioners, parents of individuals with disabilities, and job seekers awaiting appointments.
The UDF intends to compile district-specific reports outlining the primary challenges faced by each area, with the aim of assisting the alliance in formulating its election manifesto and identifying priority areas in the event of assuming power. Satheesan strongly criticized the state government for allegedly misusing public funds to disseminate “politically motivated propaganda” through advertisements issued by the Information and Public Relations Department, which highlighted negative news reports from a decade ago during the previous UDF rule.
Moreover, Satheesan asserted that numerous workers from the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist had switched allegiance to the Congress and other UDF partners during the yatra, indicating a growing discontent within the Left ranks as the Assembly elections draw near.
