PALAKKAD: Accelerating NDA’s campaign as the Kerala assembly elections entered a decisive phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the ruling LDF and the UDF, accusing them of “looting” Kerala through an alternating power arrangement for seven decades.
Stating that “what remained unchanged will change”, Modi asserted that the BJP-led NDA will form the next government in the state after the April 9 polls and added that BJP is the real ‘A-team’ in the state now.
During his visit to the state, the prime minister addressed a massive election rally in Palakkad and later took out a high-octane roadshow at Swaraj Round in Thrissur, where hundreds lined up to greet him, braving the scorching sun.
At the packed rally titled ‘Maattathinte Kaattu Modikkoppam’ (Wind of change with Modi) at Fort Maidan in Palakkad, Modi began his speech by invoking cultural symbolism, referring to the Kalpathy temple and drawing a parallel with Kashi, the parliamentary constituency he represents.
He sought to position the NDA as the only credible alternative to what he described as a decades-long duopoly. He refuted the allegations that the BJP acts as a “B-team” for either front, turning the charge on its head. “The CPM claims the Congress is the BJP’s B-team, while the Congress makes the same allegation against the CPM. This effectively means that they both have admitted that in this election the only real A-team is the BJP,” Modi said, as the crowd — around 30% of them women — erupted in cheers despite the intense heat in Palakkad.
In the speech that lasted nearly an hour, Modi claimed that Kerala is witnessing a changing electoral mood, with growing acceptance of the BJP across key social segments. “There is a different atmosphere in Kerala, sending a message of change,” he said, adding that youth, women and farmers were increasingly aligning with the NDA. “What remained unchanged will change. Now, Keralam will develop,” he said.
Modi alleged a tacit understanding between the two dominant alliances in Kerala. “For a few years, LDF runs the government and fills its pockets, and after that, the UDF comes and continues the loot. Kerala has remained trapped in this arrangement,” he said.
Modi accuses LDF & UDF of systemic corruption
Modi accused both the fronts of systemic corruption and mutual non-accountability. “If these two corrupt parties are afraid of anyone, it is the BJP. They fear that if the BJP comes to power, all their wrongdoings will be exposed,” he said, promising comprehensive investigations into alleged scams under previous governments.
Expanding his critique beyond Kerala, Modi pointed to political alignments in other states to question the credibility of the Congress-Left rivalry. He noted that the two parties cooperate in several regions while projecting hostility in Kerala, calling on voters to remain cautious of what he termed “political duplicity”.
On governance, Modi targeted the LDF government’s fiscal management, alleging that Kerala’s public debt had crossed Rs 5 lakh crore and tripled over the past decade. He questioned the utilisation of borrowed funds, stating that “people are asking where this money is going”. He said an NDA government would prioritise financial accountability and redirect resources toward infrastructure and welfare.
Highlighting the Centre’s role, Modi said Kerala had received significantly higher allocations under the NDA government compared to the previous Congress-led regimes. He cited investments in urban infrastructure, railways, highways, agriculture, housing and the Jal Jeevan Mission, while accusing the state government of failing to effectively deploy these funds.
Modi also mentioned all sections of society -- youth, women, the aged, farmers and government officials -- and the issues they are facing in Kerala currently. He also flagged structural economic concerns, particularly the lack of industrial expansion.
He said inadequate job creation had forced large-scale youth migration, despite Kerala’s potential in tourism, agriculture and maritime sectors. He cited delays in salary and pension disbursements to government employees as indicators of fiscal stress.
Modi also underscored the strategic importance of Palakkad, where the BJP has fielded senior leader Sobha Surendran. He referenced earlier electoral performance, including the party’s second-place finish with E Sreedharan, and urged voters to consolidate support behind the NDA candidate this time.
Senior NDA leaders, including C K Padmanabhan, M T Ramesh, A N Radhakrishnan, A P Abdullakutty, and Sabu Jacob, and the 12 candidates of the front in the district were present on the occassion.
