NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Fruday pitched the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) as a unified and people-centric alliance ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, saying the coalition represents both experience and fresh leadership rooted in local realities.“Each candidate reflects the voice, the aspirations and the trust of the people of Keralam. This is a collective of experienced leaders and young change-makers – a strong team of men and women who understand the intricacies of the constituencies they represent,” Rahul said in a post on X.“For me, Keralam is home and the people of Keralam are family. I owe a great debt to the people for everything they have taught me and for the love and warmth they have embraced me with – I will always be your partner,” it added.Projecting the election as a moment of political shift, Rahul said, “The message from Keralam is clear — the people are ready for change, they seek a government that listens, understands, and delivers with honesty.”He also expressed confidence in the UDF’s prospects, saying, “Along with the coming UDF government, I will do everything to help build a better future for this beautiful state. Keralam will win. UDF will lead.”Kerala will go to the polls on April 9 to elect a new 140-member Assembly, with results scheduled for May 4. The contest has largely crystallised into a three-way battle between the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress-led UDF, and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).The LDF, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is seeking a rare third consecutive term, banking on its governance record over the past decade. The BJP, under state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, is attempting to regain ground after losing its only seat in Nemom in 2021.While the outgoing Assembly was dominated by the Left with 99 seats against the UDF’s 41, the opposition is hopeful that shifting political currents and localised anti-incumbency could narrow the gap. Nearly 35 constituencies saw victory margins of less than 10,000 votes in the last election, making them key battlegrounds this time.
