Thiruvananthapuram, April 5 (IANS) Every vote for the CPI-M in Kerala would end up helping the BJP when it comes to the big electoral picture. This was Congress star campaigner Rahul Gandhi's main thrust during his campaign blitz here Saturday.
The Congress vice president went hammer and tongs at the Community Party of India-Marxist during his whirlwind tour stretching from the north to the southern end of the state.
"The CPI-M has no role in national politics, so a vote here for the CPI-M means it would be helping the Bharatiya Janata Party," Gandhi said at his first public meeting at Kasargode in north Kerala.
At his next campaigning pit-stop in the hilly district of Idukki, Gandhi assured the residents - who fear that the K. Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats would hit as many as 123 villages in the district - that not a single person will be affected.
"The Congress is one party that understands the needs of the people and there is no need to fear about any problems on account of the Kasturirangan report," he said.
At his third venue in central Kerala's Chengannur, he said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has delivered what it had promised and it would continue to work for the uplift of the poor and downtrodden.
Touching down at his fourth venue - the Attingal Lok Sabha constituency in the capital district - close to sunset, Gandhi attacked both the CPI-M and the BJP, claiming they were two sides of the same coin.
"Both parties are trying to gain power using violence. We gave the people Right to Education, Right to Food and Right to Information. The next UPA government will assure Right to Health and Right to a Job," the Congress leader said.
One of the highlights of Gandhi's visit was the huge number of women who had turned up at his meetings, which has encouraged the party's state leadership.
State leaders believe that if this success was the measure of response to the party's first star campaigner, then subsequent meetings involving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi which are to follow, would receive an even better response.
Kerala, which goes to the polls April 10, sends 20 members to the lower house of parliament. In the outgoing Lok Sabha, the Congress led-United Development Front had 16 members, while the Left opposition had just four.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony has already thrown a challenge to the opposition, claiming that the party would better its last performance and would add at least one more win to its kitty.
IND vs ENG: 'I forgot what my position is...', why did KL Rahul say this after his century?
The Indian team performed brilliantly on the fourth day of the Headingley Test. Especially the pa
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), in a recent circular, has advised that charges
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Center and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to produce
Exclusive: When will the second wave of Corona weaken? AIIMS director Randeep Guleria told
New Delhi: The country is badly affected by the second wave of Corona. Hospitals are crowded, peo
These days a confrontation is going on between Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief
Women took out 'Aurat March' on the occasion of Women's Day in Islamabad, Pakistan. During this,
China has appointed Qin Gang as the new foreign minister. He will replace Wang Yi, who served in
'If needed, Hindu...', VHP warns Trudeau after the attack on a temple in Canada.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad's International President Alok Kumar condemned the attack on the Hindu temp
AAP volunteers start 300-km walk to support Kejriwal
New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Four AAP volunteers Sunday started a 300-km walk from Ludhiana in Punj
Government should rethink land bill: Karunanidhi
Chennai, March 20 (IANS) DMK president M. Karunanidhi urg