Keralam Assembly Elections: “One is “corrupt, another is “mega corrupt,” PM Modi attacks UDF, LDF in Palakkad

PALAKKAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 29 launched a sharp attack on Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF), accusing both alliances of indulging in “vote-bank politics” and neglecting the state’s development.

Addressing a public rally in Palakkad, the Prime Minister said Keralam has long been caught between “two models of selfish politics,” alleging that while one side is “corrupt,” the other is “mega-corrupt,” and if one is “communal,” the other is “mega-communal.” He asserted that both the LDF and UDF have prioritised electoral gains over governance.

PM Modi said the BJP-led NDA aims to bring rapid development to the state, expressing confidence that a future NDA government in Keralam would work towards building a “developed Keralam,” which he described as “Modi’s guarantee.”

“For decades, Keralam has been trapped between the two masks of selfish politics. On one side LDF, on the other UDF; one side Communists, the other Congress. One corrupt, the other mega-corrupt; one communal, the other mega-communal. All the policies of the LDF and the UDF are only for vote-bank politics; they show no concern for Keralam’s development. The BJP, NDA government that will be formed here will bring rapid development to this place, will build a developed Keralam–this is Modi’s guarantee,” said PM Modi.

He further accused the LDF and UDF of “looting” the state through an understanding of alternating power over the years. According to him, the two alliances have taken turns governing Keralam, each serving its own interests, leaving the state trapped in this cycle.

Referring to recent political rhetoric, PM Modi said both the Left and Congress have begun calling each other the BJP’s “B-team,” adding that such claims only reinforce the BJP as the main political force in the state. He also pointed out that these parties are allies in several other states under the INDIA bloc, while attacking each other in Keralam, urging voters to be cautious of this contradiction.

“The LDF and UDF have looted Keralam for decades by sharing the spoils; there has been an understanding between them that for some years the LDF will run the government and fill their pockets, then after a few years the UDF will loot. Our Keralam has gotten entangled in their alliance. These days, the communists and Congress have joined hands to start a new propaganda campaign, where the Communists say that Congress is the B team of the BJP, and Congress says that the Communists are the B team of the BJP. They too have now accepted that in this Keralam election, if there is any one team–the ‘A’ team–it is only the BJP,” he said.

Targeting the I.N.D.I. Alliance, the Prime Minister said voters in Keralam should recognise these contradictions, pointing out that the same parties are allied in several states across the country while criticising each other locally. He urged people to remain cautious of both formations.

“Today, the truth about who is whose B-team in the upcoming elections needs to be revealed to the people of Keralam. They are in an alliance with each other across the country. Look at Bihar, look at Jharkhand, look at Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Assam. They are together in the INDI alliance; even in Tamil Nadu, they are in alliance. But here in Keralam, the Congress and the Left parties are abusing each other. That’s why you should be careful about both of them,” said the Prime Minister.

The Keralam Assembly polls, which will be held in a single phase on April 9, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The tenure of the current assembly is set to conclude on May 23. The polling would be done under strict guidelines issued by the ECI under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which came into effect in all poll-bound regions after the election schedule was announced.

Following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state electoral roll, the final voter list for Keralam was released on February 21. The revised roll includes 2,69,53,644 voters–1,31,26,048 male voters, 1,38,27,319 female voters, and 227 third-gender voters. Among them, 4,24,518 voters belong to the 18-19 age group. (ANI)