Thiruvalla (Kerala): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the countdown for the removal of the LDF government has started, and a BJP-led NDA will come to power in Kerala.

Speaking at a BJP-led NDA rally in here, in Pathanamthitta district, Modi said that the saffron party workers in the state have signalled a strong mood in Kerala to bid farewell to the Left rule.

"I have come here before as well, but this time the winds of change are blowing in a different direction. The biggest transformation is now about to take place in Keralam. Voting will be held on April 9, and on May 4, the end of decades of misgovernance will be declared. It is now certain that the countdown to the exit of the LDF government has begun. For the first time, a BJP-NDA government is coming to power in Keralam," he said.

The Prime Minister referred to the presence of a large number of people while on his way to the rally venue.

"Upon my arrival, I witnessed massive crowds lining the entire route to this venue. The Left speaks of human chains, but the people of Keralam have shown their love for the NDA by forming a human wall," he said.

"I recently had an extensive interaction with BJP Keralam karyakartas during the Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot campaign. Over 1,25,000 karyakartas from 5,000 Shakti Kendras across Keralam connected and shared their insights. One message was clear: Keralam has made up its mind to show the door to the LDF government," he added.

Elections to 140 Assembly seats will be held on April 9 in the state.

In his address, the PM said that if the BJP comes to power in the state, it will ensure development in Kerala as it did in six out of the seven north-east states where it is in power and Goa, which has a significant Christian population.

He said that Kerala has great potential, yet continues to lag behind other states in the race for development.

Basic infrastructure was poor in Kerala's rural areas as the LDF and UDF did not pay attention to that, he alleged.

The PM said that the NDA government at the Centre has not spared any effort for Kerala's development despite there being no BJP administration in the state till now.

He said that the NDA government has spent five times more on development in Kerala than the Congress-led UPA regimes.

Modi also accused the Left government in the state of delaying the Sabari rail project, claiming that is caused significant loss to the people of Thiruvalla.

He said that when a BJP double-engine government comes to power in Kerala, all obstacles will be removed. "This is Modi's guarantee".

The PM also said that across the country, if any group benefits most from NDA policies, "its my mothers, sisters, daughters and women".

Modi also referred to the migration of youth from Kerala for jobs and said that it was the state's biggest problem.

He said that corruption and communalism were the two biggest obstacles in the development of Kerala, and the LDF needs to be defeated to address them. PTI