Pathanamthitta: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi intensified his campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, alleging a clandestine "combination" between the BJP and the LDF in the lead-up to the April 9 Assembly elections.

Addressing a large gathering in Adoor, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that the Prime Minister’s recent silence regarding the Sabarimala temple controversy during his visit to Kerala confirms a tactical understanding between the two rival fronts.

"We are fighting an election against the LDF, which is fully supported by the BJP. On one side is the UDF and on the other is a CPI(M)-BJP combination," Gandhi said. Invoking economic theory, he added: "Many years ago, a famous economist said that there is a hidden hand in the market... But here in the Kerala elections, there is a hidden hand of the BJP."

Allegations of Selective Prosecution

Gandhi argued that the BJP recognises Congress as its only legitimate national challenger, viewing the Left Front as a manageable entity. He pointed to his own legal battles as evidence of the BJP's targeted aggression against its true opponents.

"I have been attacked, I have 36 cases on me. I was interrogated for 55 hours non-stop," he said, contrasting his situation with the lack of federal pressure on Kerala’s Chief Minister. "Everybody knows that the LDF leadership is corrupt. There are cases ongoing, but there is no pressure on them from the BJP. There is no interrogation, there are no threats."

The Sabarimala and Temple Row

The Congress leader specifically targeted the Prime Minister's rhetoric regarding religion. He questioned why Modi refrained from addressing the alleged irregularities at the Lord Ayyappa temple during his stop in Palakkad.

"He has forgotten that the Left Front leaders stole from the Ayyappa temple. He has forgotten that the Left Front leaders took the gold of the Ayyappa temple and replaced it with brass," Gandhi alleged. He suggested this silence was a calculated move to protect LDF interests. "If it brings votes, he will speak about temples. If he wants to protect the interests of the LDF, he will not speak about temples."

Gandhi promised that a UDF administration would ensure those responsible for temple-related irregularities face prosecution.

Economic and Agricultural Critique

Turning to the state's economy, Gandhi accused the LDF of abandoning its leftist roots in favour of a "corporatist" agenda similar to the BJP’s. He highlighted the plight of rubber farmers, claiming the current state government refuses to provide necessary compensation.

"The LDF refuses to compensate rubber workers. They don't care about protecting them and are happy to have relations with big business," he said, pledging that Congress would implement a systematic protection plan against price fluctuations.

Global and National Ties

In a recurring campaign theme, Gandhi reiterated his claim that the Prime Minister is compromised by U.S. President Donald Trump through financial dealings—an allegation he said went unanswered in Parliament. He drew a parallel to the state level, asserting that "just as Trump controls Modi, the prime minister controls the Kerala Chief Minister."

Gandhi concluded by praising the social fabric of Kerala, noting that the state’s tradition of coexistence and mutual respect offers a lesson to the rest of the nation. He reaffirmed that Congress’s "five guarantees" would be the cornerstone of their governance if elected, focusing on reviving small businesses and the IT sector.

With inputs from PTI