In a speech delivered during the inauguration of the Kerala Pada Yatra led by Kerala State BJP President K Surendran in Kasaragod, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Savant criticised the security situation in Kerala, stating that even the State governor is not safe. Savant highlighted the failure of the Kerala Police to protect Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, necessitating protection from the Union Government. He remarked that Surendran’s Padayatra would transform into Kerala’s Parivartana Yatra (March for Change).
Savant lauded the developmental projects brought to Kerala by the Modi regime, asserting that the people of Kerala are inclined towards electing MPs from the state due to the central government’s track record of success. He contrasted this with what he described as rampant corruption within Kerala’s political corridors, citing the imprisonment of the Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister as evidence.
Furthermore, Savant commended the infrastructural developments witnessed across the country under the Modi administration, emphasising the tangible improvements in areas such as drinking water, sanitation, and women’s empowerment. He highlighted initiatives such as free ration distribution for the benefit of the weakest sections of society and various schemes aimed at agricultural development and poverty alleviation.
Savant remarked on the migration of students from Kerala to other states and abroad due to perceived lack of opportunities in the state. He attributed this trend to the failure of Kerala to provide satisfactory prospects for its youth.
Addressing the gathering, K. Surendran reiterated the importance of Narendra Modi’s leadership in rescuing Kerala from the challenges posed by both the Left and Right Fronts. He emphasized the need for a new Kerala and praised Modi for translating promises into action. Surendran criticized the prevailing corruption within both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF).
The slogan “Modiyude guarantee, Puthiya Keralam” (“Modi’s Guarantee, Novel Kerala”) was chosen for the march, symbolising the aspirations for a transformed Kerala under Modi’s leadership. Goa CM Savant flagged off K. Surendran’s Yatra, which was attended by thousands of party workers and sympathizers.
Union Minister V. Muraleedharan delivered the keynote address at the event, emphasising the need for change in Kerala’s political landscape. Thushar Vellappalli, BDJS leader and NDA state convener, welcomed the gathering, while senior BJP leaders such as P.K. Krishnadas, Kummanam Rajasekharan, and C.K. Padmanabhan, along with national vice president A.P. Abdullakkutty and JRP state president C.K. Janoo, were also present.
Surendran inaugurated the writing of slogans on walls in preparation for the imminent Lok Sabha polls and participated in the ‘Sneha Samgamam’ (friendly conclave) of religious and caste leaders and prominent citizens.
The Yatra attracted thousands of people along its route, with prominent leaders addressing gatherings held in connection with the reception accorded to the march. Overall, the event showcased the BJP’s efforts to galvanise support and push for change in the political landscape of Kerala.
