Congress leader Rahul Gandhi kicked off his campaign for the Kerala Assembly elections by accusing the ruling Left and BJP of a covert alliance. He highlighted a direct showdown between the UDF and a supposed Left-BJP collaboration. Gandhi criticized the BJP for not viewing the Left as a significant opponent nationally.
Thanking his supporters in Adoor, Gandhi alleged differential treatment towards leaders opposing the BJP. He pointed out the lack of intense scrutiny faced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Left leadership. Gandhi further accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of silence on contentious Kerala issues to avoid harming the CPI(M).
In a scathing attack, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Kerala Left government had shifted towards corporate-friendly policies akin to the BJP. He criticized the neglect of rubber farmers and the failure to safeguard workers and small producers by both the State and Centre. Gandhi positioned the UDF as a people-centric choice and unveiled various welfare promises.
These pledges include free bus travel for women, a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for college-going girls, and an increase in welfare pensions to Rs 3,000. He also vowed a Rs 25 lakh health insurance cover for every family, Rs 5 lakh loans for small-scale entrepreneurship, and the establishment of a ministry for senior citizens. Emphasizing local employment and manufacturing, Gandhi urged Kerala to boost MSMEs and agriculture instead of depending on imports.
Kerala is set to vote on April 9 to elect 140 legislators, with Gandhi planning more campaign events in Kottayam on the same day.
