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Campaigning for the 2026 Keralam Assembly elections, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described himself as an "honorary Keralite" despite not being born in the state.
Gandhi highlighted the state's inclination towards "unity over division" on his social media, promising to always "stand by you and protect your interests". "I might not be born in Keralam but I'm an honorary Keralaite. Keralam chooses love over hate, humility over arrogance, hope over anger, and unity over division. This spirit of compassion, dignity, and togetherness is what defines Keralam. I am committed to always stand by you and protect your interests," he said. Earlier, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi warned of a looming "financial earthquake" linking the ongoing tensions in West Asia to a potential spike in fuel prices and inflation that would be directly felt by the people of India in the coming months while addressing a gathering in Kozhikode. He warned that rising global instability could soon translate into economic distress domestically. "You know what is happening in the Middle East... a tragedy is unfolding, and nobody knows where it will end. The people of Kerala and India will be directly affected. Fuel prices are going to rise. Inflation is going to go up. An earthquake, a financial earthquake is coming. One or two months from now, a financial earthquake is coming," Gandhi said. Gandhi further asked what the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala is doing to protect citizens and ease their financial burden amid global uncertainties. "Modi cannot do anything. He is run by Donald Trump. But what is the Kerala government doing to protect you? What is the Kerala government doing to make your life easier?" Gandhi asked during his public rally. The polling for Keralam Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. Kerala has traditionally followed an alternating pattern of governance, switching between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) every five years since 1982. This trend was broken in 2021 when the LDF, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was re-elected for a second consecutive term. During this election, the Congress-led UDF seek to unseat the incumbent Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF and gain control of the 140-member assembly. The LDF-led government has governed the state for around a decade. Around 2.7 crore electors are expected to participate in the election. (ANI)
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