Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged a secret understanding between the CPI(M)-led LDF and BJP at a UDF rally in Kozhikode. They claimed the BJP is aiding LDF's victory by fielding weak candidates. The party also unveiled five welfare guarantees for Kerala.
The Congress intensified its Kerala Assembly election campaign on Wednesday as president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a UDF rally in Kozhikode, joined virtually by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Kharge stated: “People say there is a secret understanding between CPIM and BJP, and it has been named Communist Janata Party. BJP is fielding weak candidates to the LDF. They are not trying to win, but trying to help the LDF win. Every vote to BJP is a vote to LDF, which claims to be secular, but it is helping the BJP which is against the minorities.” Rahul Gandhi said: “There are only two parties fighting elections in Kerala. One is UDF and the other one is a partnership between LDF and BJP. The UDF unites people, listens to people and empowers them. LDF and their hidden partners divide people. Modiji promised 2 crore jobs a year and your chief minister (Pinarayi Vijayan) promised 40 lakh jobs. After a decade, we find they have not given jobs, but destroyed dreams. Neither the BJP nor the LDF believe that they are answerable to the people of Kerala. The policy of LDF cannot be differentiated from that of BJP.” He questioned why the BJP does not target Kerala CM and why the corruption case against him is stalled, calling it proof of BJP-LDF collusion. Congress announced five guarantees if UDF returns to power: free bus travel for women, Rs 1,000 monthly allowance for college girls, welfare pensions raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000, Rs 26 lakh family health insurance, and interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh for youth enterprises. Note that Congress and CPI(M) are INDI alliance partners elsewhere but rivals in Kerala.
