Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at Pathanamthitta that Kerala would return a double-digit number of MPs to Lok Sabha this time. He said this while addressing a mammoth rally organised for the election campaign of BJP candidate Anil Antony, son of Congress veteran A K Antony, three-time Kerala CM and former Defence Minister. Prime Minister also said that NDA would cross 400 in Lok Sabha tally.
He started his speech by raising Bharat Mata Ki Jai and also raising Swamiye Ayyappa. It is to be remembered that the legendary Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple is in Pathanamthitta district.
PM said that the BJP had crossed 22 per cent vote share in the past. He said the enthusiasm shown by the crowd in front of him asserted that this time, “Lotus will bloom.” He likes Kerala to be young and energetic. Anil Antony is energetic, and Kerala needs him.
PM said Kerala is being ruled by corrupt and inefficient Fronts one after another. Kerala suffers from this, and Keralites are conscious of it. Both the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) shut their eyes against the unenviable plight of rubber farmers. Law and order have collapsed.
Colleges are havens of Communist violence. People, in general, and women, in particular, are scared. Even Christian priests are attacked. This ‘LDF – UDF cycle’ should stop. They are power-hungry. They fight each other in Kerala, but in Delhi, they are hand in glove. People and women should fight against this. The activities of both Fronts are nothing but politically motivated. How much damage they do to the State! Once they are thrown away, people will not bring them back.
Congress has been rauted from other States in the country. Their last Government in Tamil Nadu was voted to power in 1962. The Congress has not ruled in Odisha for the last 30 years. They have been out of power in Bengal for about five decades. The Congress has not ruled in Uttar Pradesh for more than four decades. There are states where the Congress does not have a single MP in the Lok Sabha.Tripura has thrown out CPM.
Keralites maintain high cultural values and progressive thoughts. But, both LDF and UDF follow obsolete ideologies. They oppose Muthalaq, reservations for OBCs and low-income groups.
Kerala’s culture is spiritually oriented. But LDF and UDF destroy faith. Kerala is peace-loving, but both Fronts divide the society and unlessh politics of violence. LDF is interested in gold loot. UDF is involved in Solar loot. (Prime Minister was referring to the gold smuggling scam of LDF and the solar energy scam of UDF). Prime Minister sought the support of the people of Kerala to stop the loot. He said, “Corrupt regimes destroy the State. I am trying to uplift it”.
Prime Minister pointed out the support the Union Government has extended to Pathanamthitta district :
Jaljeevan Mission for 350,000 families
Free ration for 500,000 families under Garibi Kalyan Yojana
PM Kissan Samman Yojana for 150,000 people
Free vaccination for 150,000 domestic animals
LPG connections for 12,000 women under Ujjwal Yojana
Prime Minister said Kerala needs committed MPs to convey the people’s sentiments to the centre. No curtailment of centre’s aid to Kerala. That is Modi’s guarantee.
Prime Minister said that when he goes abroad, he tells the leaders there about Keralites. They all hold good opinions about Keralites. He always does ‘Kerala branding’ wherever he goes. A trade pact was signed with UAE in 2022. It is worth millions of dollars in business. Kerala’s energetic youths are the beneficiaries. When he visited the Vatican, he told the Pope about Kerala.
BJP Government works hard in all sectors. When our nurses and priests were trapped abroad, Government brought them back safely. During Corona, people from all over the world were brought back. Whenever our people face tough time, Government comes to their rescue. It is Modi’s guarantee.
The PM wished the people greetings for Easter and Ramadan and best wishes to all communities. He also wished all a nice election, the festival of democracy. He called on the people to get rid of the cliche of the LDF and UDF cycle. ‘Modi is not ready for any compromise with respect to Kerala’s development’.
As usual, PM Modi started his speech in Malayalam. This is the 4th Modi visit to Kerala in three months. BJP State President K Surendran and Padmaja Venugopal spoke on the occasion. Padmaja, daughter of the late Congress veteran K Karunakaran, four-time CM and the man who played his cards to make P. V. Narasimha Rao the PM, joined BJP recently. It was interesting to see her seeking the vote for Anil Antony, the son of her father’s arch-rival within the party once upon a time. Candidates V Muraleedharan (Union Minister), Shobha Surendran and Baiju Kalasala were also on the dais. K Surendran, referring to the LDF convener’s comment, said that even BJP’s opponents have agreed that the party’s candidates are excellent. Prime Minister’s programme has left an electrifying impact in Dakshin Kerala.
