Thiruvalla, (Kerala), April 4
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared that the “countdown” to the end of the LDF government in Kerala had begun, claiming the state was on the verge of a political shift that could, for the first time, bring a BJP-led NDA government to power.
Addressing a large rally in Thiruvalla, Modi said the size of the crowd and what he described as growing public support for the NDA reflected a changing mood in Kerala.
He told supporters that the upcoming vote on 9 April would mark the start of that change, and predicted that by 4 May, voters would signal the end of what he called decades of misgovernance by the ruling Left Democratic Front.
“The countdown for the exit of the LDF government has begun,” Modi said, adding that Kerala was heading towards a “major transformation”.
The Prime Minister used the speech to position the BJP as an alternative not only to the LDF but also to the Congress-led UDF, accusing both fronts of holding the state back despite Kerala’s strong natural and economic potential.
He said Kerala had opportunities in sectors such as tourism, industry and the blue economy, but argued that poor infrastructure, weak connectivity and delayed projects had prevented the state from realising its full promise.
Modi also said the Centre had continued to support Kerala’s development despite the BJP never having been in power in the state. He pointed to welfare schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, saying they had delivered direct benefits to households and farmers, including rubber growers.
On infrastructure, he highlighted the expansion of national highways, railway upgrades, the rollout of Vande Bharat trains and the proposed Sabarimala railway project, which he said could improve pilgrim travel, create jobs and strengthen the local economy. He blamed delays on the state government.
The Prime Minister also focused on women’s political participation, saying the NDA had placed women’s empowerment at the centre of governance. He referred to the push for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, urging wider political backing for the proposal.
Responding to concerns around future seat rationalisation, Modi said no state would lose representation. Instead, he said, the number of seats would increase — a move he argued would benefit all parts of the country, including southern states.
He also touched on youth migration, saying many young people in Kerala had been forced to leave in search of better opportunities, including overseas. He blamed corruption and divisive politics for slowing industrial growth and limiting job creation.
Speaking about Keralites employed overseas, particularly in West Asia, Modi said the Centre remained fully committed to protecting Indians abroad and supporting their families back home, especially during times of global uncertainty.
Turning to politics, he launched a sharp attack on both the LDF and the UDF, accusing them of confusing voters and spreading false narratives on issues including the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
He said both alliances had failed to prioritise Kerala’s development and were now more focused on targeting the BJP than addressing the state’s long-standing challenges.
Closing his speech, Modi urged voters to back the BJP-NDA in the coming election, framing the contest as a choice between what he described as political stagnation and a new phase of development.
While the BJP has historically struggled to break the bipolar dominance of the LDF and UDF in Kerala, Saturday’s rally made clear that the party intends to fight this election by projecting itself as a serious contender — and by turning the campaign into a direct challenge to the Left government’s hold on power.
