Kasaragod, Feb 6 (NationPress) As the Assembly election timeline is anticipated to be unveiled in the early days of March, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) officially kicked off its electoral campaign by initiating the Puthuyuga Yatra (Journey to a New Era) from Kasaragod, located at the northernmost point of Kerala.

AICC general secretary and Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal inaugurated the yatra by presenting the flag to its leader, V.D. Satheesan, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition, amid the presence of UDF constituent party leaders.

This yatra is set to traverse all 14 districts of Kerala, encompassing various Assembly constituencies, and will wrap up with a significant public rally in Thiruvananthapuram on March 7.

Satheesan emphasized that this yatra symbolizes the commencement of a crucial political struggle against what he termed the failures, corruption, and mismanagement of the CPI-M-led LDF government, which has held power for a decade.

He pointed out that Kerala is experiencing an unparalleled financial crisis, with the state's economy in turmoil, development initiatives halted, and the debt projected to approach nearly Rs 6 lakh crore by the conclusion of the government’s tenure.

Furthermore, he remarked that the healthcare system is “on a ventilator” and cautioned that continued student migration abroad for education could lead to Kerala becoming an ageing state within a few years.

He highlighted the distress within the agricultural sector, difficulties faced in coastal areas, increasing incidents of wild animal attacks, and the failure to distribute even basic grants to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students.

In contrast to traditional election yatras, Satheesan indicated that the Puthuyuga Yatra would not only focus on criticizing the government but also on offering a feasible vision for Kerala’s future.

He revealed that the UDF has developed sector-specific vision documents in collaboration with experts over the past two years, which will be unveiled as phased, long-term initiatives rooted in Kerala's strengths.

Approximately 75% of the yatra will be dedicated to discussions concerning employment generation, healthcare, education, and structural reforms.

Satheesan assured that there would be no compromise on secularism and reiterated that the UDF’s primary goal is to combat communal politics in Kerala.

He added that government corruption, particularly the Sabarimala gold case, would be a focal point of the campaign.

Terming the yatra the “end of an era,” Satheesan expressed that it signals the dawn of a new political phase and the impending end of Communist rule in Kerala, conveying confidence that the UDF would regain power in 2026 with a strong mandate.