TIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Kerala on a day-long visit amid buzz that the party is set to unveil ambitious ‘guarantee’ schemes modeled after successful implementations in Karnataka and Telangana. This comes shortly after the state assembly approved a proposal to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’.
Gandhi participated in several events under the Nava Kerala Yatra on Friday. Party insiders suggest he might announce 3-4 key guarantees at the yatra’s closing ceremony, targeting women, senior citizens, youth, and other vital demographics with direct benefits.
These promises draw inspiration from the welfare models that have gained traction in southern states, bolstering Congress’s confidence in replicating them here. A comprehensive election manifesto with additional commitments could follow in the coming days.
Earlier, the Lok Sabha MP addressed a public meeting in Kollam to mark the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Shivagiri Math Yatra, where the latter had met social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.
‘Shared values of forgiveness bind our Constitution and Guru’s teachings,’ Gandhi remarked. He envisioned a silent dialogue between Gandhi and Guru, rooted in the simplicity of truth.
Lamenting contemporary politics and global affairs, Gandhi observed a drift towards darkness and ignorance. ‘Efforts to understand others are absent; disagreement leads to violence, even bombings,’ he said.
He accused domestic politics of mirroring this trend, where dissent invites attacks. Both Gandhi and Guru, he emphasized, championed love, respect, forgiveness, and understanding over violence.
As Kerala gears up for polls, these announcements could reshape the electoral landscape, signaling Congress’s aggressive push in the state.