PM Modi Launches NDA Campaign in Kochi, Seeks Kerala's Mandate for Development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fervent appeal to the people of Kerala on Wednesday, urging them to break the existing political pattern and grant the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) an opportunity to govern the state. Launching the NDA's election campaign at a major convention in Kochi, Modi emphasized that Kerala has allocated 70 years to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF) for governance, and it is now time for a transformative change.
A Five-Year Promise for a Developed Kerala
Modi declared, "Give us five years to transform Kerala into a developed state. If the NDA comes to power, people will get a glimpse of a developed Keralam. The progress has Modi's guarantee." He highlighted Kerala's abundant natural landscape, rich culture, technological talent, and extensive coastline, yet lamented that development has not reached desired levels under the LDF and UDF regimes, which he accused of causing significant losses to the state.
The Prime Minister outlined that the BJP and NDA have crafted a comprehensive roadmap for Viksit Keralam, a vision document focusing on promoting key sectors such as:
- Medical health tourism
- Wedding destinations
- Conference venues
- Hosting cultural programmes
Criticism of LDF and UDF: Corruption and Stagnation
Modi sharply criticized the prevailing political dynamics in Kerala, describing it as a coalition government of the LDF and UDF fronts, differing only in name. He accused both fronts of being partners in corruption, crime, spreading communalism, obstructing development, and destroying industries. Specific scandals were cited, including the solar scam during the UDF government and the CMRL scam under the LDF government.
Furthermore, Modi implicated both fronts in the Sabarimala gold heist, alleging that while the LDF smuggled the gold, UDF leaders are facing accusations of selling the stolen items. He labeled the Congress party as MMC — Muslim Maoist Congress, accusing it of supporting extremist forces like Jamaat-e-Islami to seize power, and criticized the CPM for establishing ties with the PDP, which he blamed for fostering terrorism among youth.
Youth Innovation and Political Narrow-Mindedness
Taking a swipe at the Congress leadership, Modi stated that the party's young leader is unaware of India's youth achievements, particularly in drone manufacturing. He noted that several companies in India are producing drones, with many young entrepreneurs from Kerala launching startups based on drone technology. "Those confined to narrow thinking would never be able to see the country's progress and the innovations driven by its youth," he asserted.
Gulf Crisis and Political Opportunism
Addressing the Gulf crisis, Modi expressed satisfaction that governments of friendly countries in the Gulf are taking care of Indian citizens, with missions and embassies providing 24x7 assistance. However, he condemned the Congress party for playing politics during such a major global crisis, accusing it of making provocative and irresponsible statements to worsen the situation and exploit the crisis for political gain against him.
Key Attendees at the Convention
The event saw the presence of prominent leaders, including BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BDJS president Thushar Vellappally, Twenty20 chairman Sabu Jacob, Union ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurien, and senior BJP leaders C K Padmanabhan, P K Krishnadas, M T Ramesh, and Sobha Surendran.
Modi concluded by emphasizing that keeping the two traditional fronts apart is essential for the security of Kerala and the welfare of its people, positioning the NDA as the alternative for rapid development and a corruption-free governance model.
