Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a UDF election rally in Palakkad on Monday. | Photo credit: KK Mustafah
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union government and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala, alleging an “unholy nexus” between the two and accusing them of sharing an “authoritarian and anti-people” approach to governance.
Addressing a rally of the United Democratic Front (UDF) at the Fort Grounds in Palakkad on Monday, Mr Gandhi described the political contest in Kerala as a contest between the UDF and a combined front led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
He said the two leaders were driven by a similar belief that only they should rule, pointing to personality-driven campaigns and what he described as “arrogant” leadership styles. Referring to the LDF’s “Who Else” hoards, Mr Gandhi criticized the portrayal of a single leader as indispensable and likened it to the BJP’s national messaging.
Mr Gandhi alleged that the LDF government had deviated from its ideological anchors and was instead pursuing “society-oriented politics”. He said that even left-wing workers would privately admit that the government no longer follows traditional left-wing principles.
Justifying his claim of an understanding between the BJP and the Left, Mr Gandhi asked why no action had been taken by central investigative agencies against the chief minister or his family while opposition leaders, including himself, faced relentless scrutiny.
He pointed to his own ordeals, such as interrogation by the executive directorate, loss of his official residence and disqualification from the Lok Sabha, saying he was targeted because he represented the main political and ideological challenge to the BJP.
Mr Gandhi claimed that Mr Modi had avoided criticizing the Kerala government despite raising religious issues elsewhere, including in the context of Sabarimala. According to him, the prime minister’s selective silence indicated political expediency.
He alleged that just as the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are using Mr Vijayan’s alleged corruption to control him, Mr Modi himself is being constrained by US President Donald Trump.
“Mr Trump is publicly threatening Mr Modi and using leverage through the Epstein and Adani files. Mr Modi has given India’s infrastructure, ports and power projects to Adani, which is funding the BJP and the Prime Minister,” he said. Just as Mr. Trump controls Mr. Modi by ensuring that key agreements are followed, the prime minister controls Mr. Vijayan. “The Kerala CM is effectively locked in a partnership with the Centre,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi said that almost every third youth in Kerala is unemployed. He criticized alleged favoritism in appointments to government posts.
Published – 06 Apr 2026 20:21 IST
