Kerala: PM targets LDF, UDF, pitches NDA
Ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the CPI (M)-led LDF and Congress-led UDF of “looting” Kerala and announced that the BJP-led NDA is the “real A-team” and not anyone’s “B-team”.
“In Kerala, Team BJP and Team NDA are to form the Government. With the blessings of the people of Kerala, and with all your support, we will form the Government here, and we will leave no stone unturned in serving Kerala,” Modi said addressing a massive rally in the State and also holding a roadshow at Thrissur.
Promising to fulfil Modi’s guarantee in Kerala if voted to power, the PM said he could sense a changing political atmosphere in the State, indicating growing support for the BJP-led alliance.
Modi claimed that the NDA and the BJP are witnessing increasing acceptance among various sections of society. Instilling confidence among BJP workers, who have faced an electoral drought ever since the formation of the saffron party four decades ago, Modi asserted that the NDA would form the next Government in Kerala.
“Now, the youth of Kerala have faith in the BJP and the NDA. Now, the women of Kerala have affection for the BJP and the NDA. Now, the farmers of Kerala have love for the BJP and the NDA,” he said.Launching a scathing attack on both fronts, he alleged that the LDF and the UDF have alternated in power while “looting” the state.
“There has been a practical understanding between them — for a few years the LDF runs the Government and fills its pockets, and after that the UDF comes and continues the loot. In this arrangement, Kerala has remained trapped,” he said.
He said both the Left and the Congress accuse each other of being the BJP’s “B-team”. “This means that both the LDF and the UDF have themselves admitted that in this Kerala election, if there is one real A-team, it is only and only the BJP,” he said.
Modi said both fronts are targeting the BJP out of fear. “This means that if these two corrupt parties are afraid of anyone, it is the BJP. They fear the BJP because they believe that if the BJP comes to power, all their wrongdoings will be exposed,” he said.
He alleged that successive LDF and UDF Governments have been involved in major scams and failed to act against each other. Modi also claimed that the Congress and the Left are allies in several states across the country but present themselves as rivals in Kerala.
“Look at Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Assam and Tamil Nadu — the Congress and the Communists are together. But here in Kerala, they abuse each other. People must remain cautious of both,” he said.
Attacking the Left Government, which has ruled the state for the past 10 years, Modi said Kerala’s public debt has crossed `5 lakh crore and has increased more than threefold in the last decade.
Highlighting central assistance, Modi said Kerala has received significantly higher funds under the NDA Government at the Centre compared with previous Congress-led regimes.
Reaching out to the people of Palakkad, where the party has fielded its firebrand leader Shobha Surendran, Modi highlighted the significance of the Kalpathy Temple, often compared with Kashi. “As a Member of Parliament from Kashi, this makes it even more special for me,” he said.
He emphasised the NDA’s focus on women-led development and cited initiatives aimed at financial inclusion, healthcare and housing. “To ensure greater participation of women in legislatures, we have passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Act,” he said.
Modi also referred to sexual assault allegations against the sitting MLA of Palakkad, Rahul Mamkootathil, who won the bypoll held in 2024 on a Congress ticket, and a recent similar case involving a Congress councillor.
Recalling the previous Assembly election, he noted that the BJP had fielded ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan in Palakkad, where he finished second. “We were saddened by that result, and so were the people of Palakkad,” he said. He said the BJP has fielded Shobha Surendran this time and urged voters to ensure her victory.
