Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) to return to power in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.
Addressing an election rally, Gandhi claimed that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is effectively fighting a combined challenge from both the LDF and the BJP. He described the contest as a battle of ideologies, asserting that an unusual alignment appears to be emerging between the Left and the Right.
“This election is a fight between two ideologies — that of the Left Front led by CPI(M) and that of the UDF. But for the first time, we are seeing a partnership between the BJP and the Left Front,” Gandhi said.
He questioned how parties with opposing ideological positions could appear to converge politically, calling it a “puzzle”. Referring to the presence of former CPI(M) leaders V. Kunhikrishnan and T.K. Govindan on the UDF stage, Gandhi said their shift indicates that the Left is no longer representing its traditional ideological base.
According to Gandhi, individuals with “Left-minded thinking” are now aligning with the Congress, while the CPI(M) has drifted towards what he described as “corporate politics”.
The Congress leader also targeted the BJP’s approach in Kerala, alleging selective silence on key issues. He questioned why Prime Minister Modi does not raise the Sabarimala gold loss issue in the state, while frequently invoking religion and temple-related matters elsewhere.
Gandhi further alleged that CPI(M) leaders were linked to the Sabarimala controversy and accused the BJP of not addressing the matter, suggesting that this indicates a tacit understanding between the two parties.
He reiterated that the UDF remains the only alternative for voters seeking a government committed to people-centric policies, while asserting that recent political developments reflect a shift in Kerala’s traditional ideological landscape.
