Wayanad: Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday addressed a spirited public meeting in Padinjarathara, within the Kalpetta Legislative Assembly Constituency, calling upon the people of Kerala to reflect on a decade of Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule and vote for a better future under the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the assembly elections scheduled for April 9.
Flanked by senior UDF leaders including Shri T.J. Isaac, Shri N.D. Appachan, Shri T. Muhammad, Shri P.P. Ali, and the UDF candidate from Kalpetta, Adv. T. Siddique, Priyanka began her address by expressing deep gratitude to the large crowd that had gathered despite the scorching heat. She thanked the workers of the Congress, IUML, and other UDF constituents, describing the opportunity to represent Wayanad in the Lok Sabha as a great honour.
“In the last one and a half years as your MP, I have tried to meet as many of you as possible, visit different communities, and understand your problems,” she said. “But overwhelmingly, what I see is that in the last 10 years of LDF government, your problems have only increased.”
Priyanka highlighted the frustration faced by opposition representatives when state and central cooperation is lacking. She pointed to the Chooralmala-Mundakkai tragedy — the devastating 2024 landslides in Wayanad that claimed hundreds of lives — as a stark example of missed opportunities due to political delays. She noted that permissions for rehabilitation projects were often held up, despite efforts by Congress and IUML leaders, and lamented that all parties had jointly inaugurated related works just before elections, when collective action could have helped earlier.
She recalled how people of all religions, castes, and parties came together in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, only for political compulsions to divide them later. “To resolve such deep problems, you need political will, and for that, we need our own government in the state,” she emphasised.
On the persistent issue of man-animal conflict in the region, Priyanka was candid: “Anybody who says they can solve it immediately is not telling the truth.” She stressed that long-term resolution requires collaboration among communities, the forest department, state government, and politicians across parties. Until then, the UDF proposes practical measures: increasing compensation by 50% in high-conflict areas, providing crop insurance, forming an expert committee for sustainable solutions, and leveraging more CSR funds and modern technology for early warning systems.
The lack of a functional medical college in the area also drew sharp criticism. Priyanka noted that she had repeatedly written to the Centre, resulting in approval for 50 seats and progress on a critical care centre. However, she pointed out tragic incidents where victims of tiger and elephant attacks died en route to Kozhikode due to inadequate local facilities. She also mentioned her follow-ups on the Poozhithode-Padinjarathara road with the state government and her recent meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the Churam bypass.
Beyond local issues, Priyanka painted a broader picture of Kerala’s untapped potential — its tourism, agriculture (including world-renowned spices and coffee), and most importantly, its young, educated, and hardworking population. “Yet, farmers struggle to make ends meet, unemployment is high, the state is in debt, and corruption is rampant,” she said, accusing the LDF government of favouring corporate interests over people. She contrasted the slew of cases against Congress leaders like her brother Rahul Gandhi with the absence of central agency actions against the Chief Minister, alleging a “secret deal” between LDF and BJP for mutual political benefit.
Priyanka urged the audience to introspect: “Look at the last 10 years of your lives. Have things become easier? Prices have risen, jobs are scarce, and support for businesses and farmers is lacking.” With challenges like the Middle East conflict looming, she warned that continuing with the current dispensation would deepen the crisis.
She presented the UDF’s five ‘Indira Guarantees’ as immediate relief and a vision for progress:
- Free bus travel across the state for all women.
- ₹1,000 per month for college-going girls.
- ₹3,000 monthly welfare pension for senior citizens, with a dedicated ministry.
- Interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh for youth to start small businesses.
- ₹25 lakh health insurance cover per household for serious illnesses and surgeries.
Additional promises include a world-class Tribal University in Wayanad to preserve tribal culture, languages, and provide quality education.
Praising local candidate Adv. T. Siddique for his tireless work, especially during the landslide relief efforts, Priyanka called on voters to strengthen the UDF’s hands. “Each vote counts. On April 9, vote for the future of your families, for honest governance, and for those who truly care about you,” she concluded, thanking the gathering once more.