UDF's return to power needed to meet challenges: Sonia

Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 18 (UNI) Stressing that the United Democratic Front's return to power in Kerala was needed for the state's overall development, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said it was only the UDF which has the vision to meet the challenges faced by the state.

''Only the UDF has the capability and determination to keep up the social security and development of the state,'' she told an election rally here, the last of her election meetings for the first phase of Assembly elections in the State on April 22.

Ms Gandhi asked the people to give a fresh mandate to the UDF so that it could continue with the development programmes it had started. Kerala has accomplished heights in many spheres, she said adding '' but much more has to be accomplished for the farmers, plantation workers, traditional workers, the youth and women in the state.'' She said Kerala was a model to all other states in the country and added it had the best education and the best primary health facility and was developed in many fields. ''I believe that this developed Kerala has to be preserved and protected. And it has to be taken even further to ensure jobs for all the youth and security to the farmers,'' she said and stressed that that only the UDF could ensure this.

Outlining the development works of the UDF, she said the Oommen Chandy government in the last five years had transformed the investment climate of the state and had created more jobs. The UDF government had restored the economic stability in the state, which had been completely shattered by the previous LDF government.

The government had attracted many new infrastructure projects to the state, launched poverty alleviation programmes like 'Akshaya' and health insurance scheme for the poor, she said.

Pointing out that the Centre had done much to address the concerns of the state, she said a separate Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs had been looking into the problems of the Non- Resident Indians and also to encourage their participation of nation building.

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