KANNUR/KOZHIKODE: Congress sharpened its attack around its central election theme of an alleged CPM–BJP nexus, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi declaring on Tuesday that Kerala is witnessing “an unusual alignment between the extreme right and the extreme left.”
Alleging that today’s Left is no more left, Rahul said both the CPM and the BJP have drifted away from grassroot concerns and are increasingly driven by corporate interests. That is why former CPM leaders such as V Kunhikrishnan and T K Govindan are fighting the elections under the UDF banner, he said, addressing poll campaign meetings across Kannur and Kozhikode districts.
In Kozhikode, Rahul launched the ‘Indira Guarantees Bus’, a campaign initiative aimed at promoting the UDF’s five key welfare promises. The bus will travel across all 140 constituencies in the state, directly engaging voters.
Highlighting the UDF’s promises, he outlined measures such as free bus travel for women, Rs 1,000 monthly support for female students, interest-free loans for young entrepreneurs, and increased pensions for senior citizens. He also proposed a comprehensive healthcare scheme, offering coverage up to Rs 25 lakh per family.
Calling the election a “battle between unity and division,” Rahul urged voters to support the UDF, stating that it alone could address unemployment and revive economic growth in Kerala.
Criticising the prime minister, he alleged the recent agreements India signed with the United States could weaken the country’s energy independence and data security.