Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the NDA’s campaign for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections with a sharp attack on the state’s traditional political fronts, asserting that Kerala needs a “new beginning” and promising development if the NDA is given a chance to govern for five years. Speaking at a major convention in Kochi, the Prime Minister said the state has immense potential but has failed to achieve the level of development it deserves because of decades of alternating rule by the LDF and the UDF.
Call for a new political beginning in Kerala
Addressing party workers and supporters, Modi declared that change is essential in Kerala and urged the state’s people to give the National Democratic Alliance an opportunity to govern. He said that Kerala now stands at a moment where it can choose a new path of development.
The Prime Minister said that Kerala requires a new future and that the time has come for the state to start a new beginning. According to him, if the NDA is given a chance to serve the people for five years, the state can witness transformative development.
He expressed confidence that people across Kerala are increasingly placing their faith in the NDA. Referring specifically to different regions of the state, Modi said the people of Thrissur, the people of Thiruvananthapuram, and residents of various panchayats across Kerala are showing trust in the NDA just as BJP and NDA supporters have done.
“Keralam has Modi’s guarantee,” the Prime Minister said, assuring the gathering that a government led by the NDA would prioritise development and governance.
Modi also urged the people to free the state from what he described as the “unholy alliance” between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). According to him, despite appearing to be political rivals, both fronts function similarly in governance.
He further asserted that if the NDA comes to power in Kerala, it would wipe out what he described as the “corruption mafia, the red tape mafia and the hartal mafia” that, according to him, have hindered development in the state for years.
Keralam’s potential and the need for development
During his speech, the Prime Minister highlighted Kerala’s natural and cultural strengths, describing it as a state blessed with extraordinary advantages. He noted that Kerala has a beautiful landscape, a favourable climate, a rich cultural heritage and a talented population. However, he said that despite these favourable conditions, the state has not developed as it truly deserves.
According to him, the primary reason for this situation is the decades-long political pattern in which the LDF and the UDF have alternated in power. Modi argued that for Kerala to experience rapid development, this pattern of alternating rule must end. Only a new political force, he said, can break this cycle and introduce a new era of governance. He appealed to voters to give the NDA an opportunity to govern for the next five years. If that happens, he said, Kerala would witness the “wonderful sight of a developed Kerala”.
The Prime Minister also declared that Kerala is entering a phase of transformation. “Now Kerala will also change,” he said, adding that even what has remained unchanged for years will transform as the state moves forward.
According to Modi, the NDA’s vision is to make Kerala number one in areas such as mental and physical health, as well as tourism. He emphasised that the state has the potential to become a global destination for tourism-related activities. He suggested that Kerala should become the number one destination for wedding tourism and a preferred location for hosting large international conferences. To achieve this goal, he said, the state’s infrastructure sector must be modernised and strengthened.
Criticism of LDF and UDF governance
Modi began his speech by raising the slogan “Jai Keralam, Jai Developed Keralam,” emphasising the need for a new development-oriented vision for the state. He strongly criticised both the LDF and the UDF, arguing that the two fronts are not truly different from one another. According to him, the two political alliances function similarly despite presenting themselves as opposing forces. “UDF and LDF are not two, but one,” he said, asserting that only the NDA can deliver genuine development for Kerala. The Prime Minister said that the name Kerala itself reflects the state’s dreams and traditions. Yet despite many favourable factors, Kerala has failed to reach the level of progress it deserves. He blamed the alternating rule of the LDF and UDF for this situation and accused both alliances of deceiving the youth of Kerala.
According to Modi, the Congress youth are unaware of the technological progress taking place in India, particularly in drone technology. He pointed out that drone technology is rapidly expanding across the country and that Kerala also has several startups involved in this sector.
The Prime Minister said that investment in Kerala will increase if the NDA comes to power. He also promised that the BJP-led alliance would eliminate what he described as the “hartal mafia” and “corruption mafia” that obstruct development in the state.
He further stated that Kerala would be transformed into a hub for artificial intelligence and other future technologies under an NDA government.
Modi also highlighted several central government initiatives aimed at supporting fishermen. He said that the BJP-led government at the Centre has provided Kisan Credit facilities to fishermen and introduced an insurance cover of ₹5 lakh for them.
He also pointed to the development of the Vizhinjam port as evidence of the central government’s commitment to strengthening the fishing sector and improving maritime infrastructure.
Remarks on Gulf Indians and global crisis
The Prime Minister also spoke about the large number of Indians working in Gulf countries and emphasised that the central government is making every effort to ensure their safety.
He said that lakhs of Indians are currently living and working in the Gulf region, and the government is committed to protecting their welfare, particularly during times of conflict. However, Modi accused the Congress party of playing politics at a time when the safety of expatriates should be the priority. According to him, despite concerns arising from conflicts in West Asia, the Congress is focusing on political criticism rather than national unity.
He alleged that Congress is eager to create social media content by criticising him instead of supporting the government’s efforts to safeguard Indians abroad.
The Prime Minister also criticised both the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), accusing them of attempting to sabotage the country’s efforts to become self-reliant.
According to Modi, even during times of war or international crises, both parties continue to run slander campaigns against the government. During his speech, Modi also mentioned the release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, referring to the efforts undertaken by the Indian government to secure the freedom of the Indian priest who had been held captive abroad. He used the example to emphasise that the government prioritises the safety of Indian citizens worldwide.
Attacks on Congress, Rahul Gandhi and political alliances
The Prime Minister continued his criticism of the opposition, accusing both the LDF and the UDF of being partners in corruption, of preventing development, and of destroying industries in Kerala. He alleged that both fronts were involved in controversies and scams during their respective tenures in power. Referring to past controversies, Modi said that during the UDF government, the solar scam became a major topic of discussion, while during the LDF government, the CMRL scam has emerged as a major issue. He also accused both alliances of being partners in what he described as the Sabarimala gold loot.
In a sharp political attack, Modi said that the Indian National Congress has effectively become the “Maoist Muslim league Congress” or what he called the “MMC Congress”. He further alleged that the Congress is even joining hands with organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami in its attempt to gain power. The Prime Minister also launched a strong attack on Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Referring to him as the “young king of the Congress”, Modi criticised him for lacking awareness about technological developments in the country. He said that Rahul Gandhi does not know the level of expertise that the youth of Kerala have achieved in drone manufacturing. According to Modi, the Congress leader is unaware that many companies in India are involved in manufacturing drones and contributing to technological innovation. The Prime Minister said that some opposition leaders remain ignorant of the major transformations taking place in the country.
He reiterated that if the BJP and the NDA come to power in Kerala, the government will ensure justice for the state’s talented youth. Modi also promised that an NDA government would create a favourable environment to attract investment and expand industries in Kerala. He said that corruption, land mafia and hartal mafia that obstruct development would be eliminated.
Kerala, he added, would be transformed into a hub for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction that Gulf governments are cooperating effectively in protecting Indian citizens during the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He said that India’s strong diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries and governments in the Gulf region play a major role in ensuring the safety of expatriates.
Modi expressed gratitude to those governments for their cooperation in safeguarding Indian citizens.
He added that Indian embassies and missions abroad are fully prepared to provide assistance to Indians whenever required. According to him, these centres operate around the clock and are ready to provide food, accommodation, medical care and legal assistance to Indians in need.
Embassies are also making regular interventions to ensure that expatriates receive help in emergencies.
However, Modi again accused the Congress party of playing politics during such a serious global crisis. He alleged that the opposition is attempting to worsen the situation through deliberately provocative statements.
According to him, the Congress is prioritising political gains over the safety of expatriates.
He said that the main objective of the Congress party at present is to find opportunities to criticise him and the government. Modi alleged that some opposition leaders are trying to create an impression that expatriates are in crisis so that they can produce social media “reels” criticising the government.
Such behaviour, he said, is irresponsible and goes against the interests of the country. The Prime Minister concluded by stating that his government always places the safety of Indians abroad as its highest priority, regardless of the nature of the crisis.
