Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 16: Senior Congress leader and campaign committee chairman Ramesh Chennithala on Monday announced that Rahul Gandhi will take on a prominent and decisive role in the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) campaign for the forthcoming Kerala Assembly elections.
Speaking at the Kerala Pradesh Congress committee headquarters after chairing the campaign panel’s first meeting, Chennithala said preparations are underway to finalise Gandhi’s statewide outreach programmes. He added that the yatra led by Leader of the Opposition V.D.
Satheesan has witnessed massive public participation, which he described as a reflection of growing sentiment against the ruling dispensation. Gandhi has also been invited to attend the yatra’s concluding event in Thiruvananthapuram on March 7.
Chennithala highlighted the UDF’s recent electoral performance, noting that despite being out of power for ten years, the alliance has delivered consistent victories. He pointed to wins in nearly all Assembly by-elections, 18 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats, and strong results in local body polls.
Launching a sharp attack on chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Chennithala alleged that the Left government has failed to acknowledge opposition victories in line with democratic norms. Instead, he accused the administration of spending substantial public funds on publicity campaigns aimed at projecting confidence.
He further claimed that borrowings raised by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board for development projects were being diverted toward advertisements and politically motivated promotions. Warning of strict action, Chennithala said a future UDF government would investigate any alleged financial irregularities and ensure accountability.
As the Assembly elections draw closer, the Congress appears poised to combine Rahul Gandhi’s campaign presence with sustained criticism of the government’s financial management, positioning the contest as a choice between public accountability and what it calls state-sponsored propaganda.