KOCHI: The UDF is set to take out a month-long statewide rally which will be attended by various national-level leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, next month. The rally, ‘Padayorukkam,’ will commence from Uppalla in Kasargod on November 1 and end in Thiruvananthapuram on December 1.
V D Satheesan MLA on Saturday said prior to the event a signature collection campaign will be held in protest against the anti-people policies of the NDA Government at the Centre and the LDF Government in the state. One crore signatures will be collected. Senior Congress leader A K Antony will inaugurate the rally on November 1. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will take part in a gathering to be organised as part of the rally in Ernakulam on November 17.
National-level leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sharad Yadav, IUML national president Khadar Moidheen, P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Pondicherry CM V Narayan Swami, Sachin Pilot and Mani Shankar Aiyar will take part in the rally. Rahul Gandhi will attend the rally at its concluding stage in Thiruvananthapuram. “Most probably, it will be the first event of Rahul Gandhi in Kerala after being elected as the Congress president,” Satheesan said.
On the anomalies in KPCC leadership list, Satheesan said issues will be resolved soon. “In fact, the issue is not as grave as it is being played up in the media. There are several people who are more deserving than those included in the list. But we have decided to give sufficient representation for youth, women and SC/ST sections in the KPCC,” he said. He rubbished reports Congress leader P C Vishnunath was not included in the KPCC list. “He is a deserving candidate and he cannot be omitted from the KPCC,” he said.
Satheesan alleged the CPM and BJP have entered into a secret pact after the bribery incident involving BJP leaders surfaced. “Amit Shah was given a warm welcome here when he arrived for the BJP rally. The CPM wants the BJP to grow as the main opposition party here. It is for communal politics such attempts are being made. But the Congress will strongly resist any such move by the CPM and BJP in Kerala,” he said.