Kottayam, Kerala: On a scorching Monday afternoon, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, engaged in a bicycle ride following an energetic campaign rally in Kottayam. This marks the first day of his two-day extensive campaign in the state, which is gearing up for legislative assembly elections. The Congress leader is advocating for the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) initiative to unseat the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the upcoming elections.

During his rally, which also included stops in Adoor, Pathanamthitta, and Puthuppally, Rahul Gandhi targeted the LDF, accusing its leaders of failing to deliver on promises made over the past decade. He strongly stated that, if elected, the UDF would set the price of rubber at Rs 250. “The LDF’s 2016 manifesto assured the public that rubber prices would remain at Rs 250. They have not met this commitment in the last ten years. In 2026, they declared a price of Rs 200, while the market rate was Rs 220. We do not engage in making false promises. In the inaugural Cabinet meeting of the next UDF government, establishing the price of rubber at Rs 250 will be top of the agenda,” he said.

Additionally, Gandhi announced plans for a new ministry dedicated to senior citizens’ welfare and pledged to raise their pensions to Rs 3000 per month. “We are initiating a ministry that will specifically address the needs of senior citizens, and we will increase their pension to Rs 3000. I am delivering this speech while my mother is hospitalized, yet I find comfort in knowing that a Kerala nurse is taking care of her in Delhi,” he remarked.

Poll Details and Historical Trends

The elections for the Kerala Assembly are scheduled for April 9, with vote counting set for May 4. Kerala has historically followed a pattern of alternating governance between the LDF and UDF every five years since 1982. This trend was interrupted in 2021 when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s LDF won a second consecutive term.

As both the LDF and UDF vie for electoral supremacy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to gain ground following its notable victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections. With the campaigning set to continue, the coming days will be critical in shaping the electoral outcomes in Kerala.

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