While campaigning for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that although he was not born in Kerala, he considers himself an “honorary Keralite.” He praised the state for embracing values such as unity, love, humility, and hope over division, hatred, arrogance, and anger. Gandhi assured the people that he remains committed to standing by them and protecting their interests.

Earlier, addressing a public gathering in Kozhikode, Gandhi warned of a potential “financial earthquake” in the near future. He linked the ongoing tensions in West Asia to a possible surge in fuel prices and inflation, cautioning that global instability could soon have serious economic consequences for India. He stated that the people of Kerala and the country would directly feel the impact of rising costs in the coming months.

Gandhi also questioned both the central government and Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) over their preparedness to handle the situation. He criticized the Centre, claiming it would be unable to respond effectively, and asked what measures the Kerala government was taking to ease the financial burden on citizens.

The Kerala Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4. Traditionally, the state has alternated between the LDF and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). However, this pattern was broken in 2021 when the LDF, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, secured a second consecutive term. In the upcoming election, the UDF aims to regain power in the 140-member assembly, with around 2.7 crore voters expected to participate.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.