Adoor, March 30 (NationPress) Kicking off his Assembly election campaign in Kerala, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi delivered a pointed speech on Monday, accusing the ruling Left and the BJP of having a "secret alliance" as he announced a series of welfare commitments aimed at voters ahead of the elections on April 9.

Speaking to a substantial crowd in Adoor under the sweltering sun, Rahul Gandhi expressed gratitude to his supporters for their turnout and framed the electoral contest as a clear rivalry between the UDF and an implicit Left–BJP partnership.

"On one side we have the UDF, and on the other side is a coalition of the Left and the BJP," he stated, introducing the notion of a "hidden hand" to suggest that the BJP does not view the Left as a significant threat on the national stage.

He asserted that leaders who genuinely challenge the BJP are subjected to undue pressure and investigations, referencing his own experiences while alleging that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Left leadership evade similar scrutiny.

Rahul Gandhi, currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, further criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on contentious issues in Kerala, such as Sabarimala, claiming it is to prevent any political fallout for the CPI(M).

In a fierce denunciation, the Congress MP claimed that the Left government in Kerala has strayed from authentic Leftist principles, instead embracing policies that favor corporate interests akin to those of the BJP.

He highlighted the struggles faced by rubber farmers, arguing that their sector has been overlooked, and lambasted both the Central and State governments for their failure to support workers and small-scale producers.

Positioning the UDF as a people-centric alternative, Rahul Gandhi introduced several key commitments.

These commitments include free bus travel for women in state-operated vehicles, a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for college-going girls, and an increase in welfare pensions to Rs 3,000.

Additionally, he pledged a health insurance coverage of Rs 25 lakh per family, Rs 5 lakh loans to stimulate small business development, and the establishment of a dedicated ministry for senior citizens.

Focusing on employment and manufacturing, Gandhi emphasized that Kerala should bolster MSMEs and agriculture rather than depend on imports.

"This microphone I am speaking into is 'Made in China'; it should be produced in Kerala," he remarked.

Kerala is set to hold elections on April 9 to elect 140 legislators. Gandhi is expected to address more gatherings in Kottayam on Monday.