Rahul Gandhi in Kerala today: Public meetings focus on winning crucial seats ahead of Assembly Polls
Thiruvananthapuram: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday formally kicked off his campaign for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, aiming to energise supporters and attract undecided voters across the state.
Departing from his residence in Delhi, Rahul is scheduled to address a series of public meetings in Kerala today, as the United Democratic Front (UDF) ramps up its campaign ahead of the single-phase elections on April 9, 2026.
The Congress-led UDF, seeking to unseat the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, recently launched its campaign in Kozhikode on March 25, focusing on governance, development, and welfare schemes. Gandhi’s campaign will also spotlight the UDF’s “guarantee card” promises, with particular attention on key constituencies and minority communities.
Key meetings and preparations
As per sources, Rahul Gandhi will travel by helicopter to Adoor in Pathanamthitta to attend a public meeting, before proceeding by road to Pathanamthitta town for a second rally. He will then continue his campaign journey to Kottayam via Pramadom Indoor Stadium, followed by visits to Puthuppally and Ettumanoor, covering key constituencies along the route.
On March 28, Rahul Gandhi met Congress MP from Kannur, K Sudhakaran, and his family, alongside Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP K C Venugopal, as part of the ground-level strategy ahead of the elections.
Earlier, on March 26, Rahul could not visit Kerala in person due to his mother’s hospitalisation in New Delhi. Addressing a rally in Kozhikode virtually, he said:
"I would have liked to come here, but I was forced to stay. Yesterday, my mother was hospitalised and I, as a son, was quite worried about her, so I decided to stay with her. I know the people of Kerala will understand this."
He added that he was reassured by a Kerala nurse who attended to his mother throughout the night, reflecting a personal touch amid the intense election campaign.
Kerala Assembly Polls 2026: Key details
- Polling date: April 9, 2026 (single phase)
- Vote counting: May 4, 2026
- Current assembly tenure ends: May 23, 2026
- Total seats: 140
- Electorate: Approximately 2.7 crore voters
The elections will be conducted under strict Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The UDF-led Congress aims to regain control after a decade of CPM-led LDF governance in the state, setting the stage for a closely fought battle between the two alliances.
ANI