Gandhi went further in his criticisms of Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, and the LDF, saying at the Alappuzha rally that the current ruling group has moved away from what it used to believe in and is being quietly helped by the BJP and RSS. He said there’s not much “left” to the Left Front anymore and warned they will lose the election because of this.
Rally Highlights and Central Message
Gandhi said this election in Kerala is as much about values as it is about getting power. He claims the LDF doesn’t stand for the things it used to, and many people within the LDF are becoming disappointed.
Gandhi pointed to G Sudhakaran, who used to be in the CPI(M), being on stage as proof of change inside the Left. Sudhakaran is running as an independent candidate in Ambalapuzha, and the Congress-led UDF is supporting him. Gandhi believes this shows a large, important change within the LDF, it isn’t just people jumping at opportunities. He thinks something at the very core of the LDF has altered.
Allegations of LDF-BJP-RSS Understanding
Gandhi alleges that someone unseen is controlling the LDF; he describes them as being focused on particular religions, against the Constitution, and wanting to split people apart. He says people in Kerala can see a connection between the BJP-RSS and the Left Front, specifically criticizing the CPM.
Expanding on this, he separated those in leadership who will do anything for power from the long-time members of the Left who feel let down by the current path of the LDF. He said these older members are worried because the LDF isn’t what it once was and believes the Left Front will barely exist after the election.
Targeting Modi and Silence on Kerala Issues
Gandhi also criticized Prime Minister Modi. He asked why Modi attacks Congress all the time, but doesn’t directly challenge Vijayan in Kerala. He compared his own many court cases, investigations, and problems with what he called Modi’s selective criticism.
He accused the Prime Minister of talking about religion a lot in his speeches around the country, but staying silent about difficult topics in Kerala when he visits. Gandhi brought up gold cases linked to Sabarimala, and said Modi won’t criticize the LDF directly because the LDF doesn’t challenge Modi on a national level. Because of this, Gandhi says, the UDF is the BJP’s target in Kerala.
Power, Accountability, and Minority Rights
Gandhi said both Modi and Vijayan have become distant from ordinary people after being in power for a long time, and have become arrogant. He thinks leaders lose touch with the public when they believe power comes from themselves. He used how women members of Parliament are treated and the forceful way protests with black flags in Kerala were handled as examples.
Gandhi also spoke about the rights of minority groups. He says attacks on Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs in different parts of India show a general atmosphere of fear. He mentioned nuns being harassed in Chhattisgarh and churches being burned in Manipur. He then said the Chief Minister of Kerala is supporting people who did these things, which he included in his more general claim about a secret agreement between the LDF and the BJP.
Economic and Policy Critiques
Aside from his political accusations, Gandhi gave a worrying picture of Kerala’s economy and the country’s overall economic direction. He said Kerala has become a center for drugs, about 75% of rice farmers are in debt, and the coir industry has collapsed, leaving 130,000 workers jobless. He says these are all signs of the government failing.
Looking at the nation as a whole, he criticized trade and energy policies, saying they help foreign companies more than Indian ones. He said a trade deal with the US could harm small farmers in India and that India’s ability to have a reliable energy supply is at risk if oil is bought based on choices made in Washington. He also claims India’s information has been given to other countries and farming has been opened up in ways that could damage local farmers. Gandhi also accused the government of giving big businesses to the Adani Group because of their political connections and thinks fuel prices could go up in the near future.
These economic points, along with his political criticisms, were meant to connect people’s household budgets with questions of who is responsible and with whom leaders are aligned.
UDF Promises and Election Context
Gandhi contrasted all this with what the UDF promises for women and students in Kerala. He said women will be able to travel for free on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses and college girls will get 1,000 rupees a month. He said these things recognize that women are the most important part of the state’s economy and society.
Kerala will be voting on April 19th, and a lot is at stake for both the LDF and the Congress-led UDF. Gandhi’s speech in Alappuzha had strong accusations about political connections as well as appeals for fairness and financial help. Whether voters believe the LDF has moved away from its beginnings and whether the UDF’s offer sounds like a good alternative will decide the outcome.
As the election campaign continues, the arguments will likely become more heated. But for now, Gandhi’s criticisms have set the tone in Kerala: he says there isn’t much “left” in the Left Front anymore, and that change is both needed and possible.
