Congress Samaragni March Begins: Venugopal Blasts BJP, LDF in Kerala

Congress leader K C Venugopal inaugurated the partys election campaign, Samaragni, in Kasaragod, criticizing the BJP-led NDA government and the CPIM-led Left front in Kerala, accusing them of a secret alliance.

Senior Congress leader K C Venugopal inaugurated the party's statewide electioneering march, Samaragni, from Kasaragod on Friday. The AICC general secretary in-charge of organization kickstarted the Lok Sabha campaign in Kerala by attacking the BJP-led NDA government and the CPIM-led Left Front in the state, alleging a secret alliance between the two.

Criticism of BJP-led Government

Venugopal drew parallels between the current BJP regime and the previous UPA government, highlighting the significant increase in the country's debt under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule. He pointed out that the debt, which stood at Rs 58 lakh crore when the UPA was in power, has now reached Rs 155 lakh crore. Venugopal also criticized the high unemployment rate, which he claimed has reached 10.05%, compared to 5.6% during the UPA's tenure.

The Congress leader further attacked the Centre for the rising prices of cooking gas, petrol, and diesel, contrasting them with the UPA government's practice of waiving off agricultural loans. He accused the BJP government of waiving off corporate loans instead and warned that the public will no longer be fooled by their false promises.

Criticism of Modi's Visits and Left Government

Venugopal criticized Prime Minister Modi's frequent visits to Thrissur, questioning his absence in Manipur, which has been facing unrest for months. He asserted that the Congress will not allow the BJP to gain any seats in Kerala.

Regarding the Left government in Kerala, Venugopal targeted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, claiming that he is the only non-NDA CM who can sleep peacefully without fear of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He alleged that the protests in Kerala and New Delhi are part of an adjustment-politics between the Centre and the state governments.

Launch of Election Campaign

Venugopal flagged off the election campaign and the statewide march, which is jointly led by KPCC president K Sudhakaran and the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, V D Satheesan. The Samaragni march aims to cover 20 Lok Sabha constituencies and culminate in Thiruvananthapuram on February 29.

Allegations Against Pinarayi Vijayan

In his address, Sudhakaran alleged that Pinarayi Vijayan is ruling the state solely for the benefit of his family. He claimed that despite numerous allegations against the chief minister, he has not been charged in any cases due to his understanding with the BJP. Sudhakaran expressed confidence that the Congress-led UDF will win all 20 Lok Sabha seats from Kerala.

The Congress party's statewide election campaign in Kerala has officially begun, with senior leaders launching scathing attacks on the BJP-led NDA government and the CPIM-led Left Front in the state. The party aims to capitalize on public discontent and secure a strong performance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.