Kollam (Keralam) [India], April 2 : Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not "standing up for India" and "bowing down to Israel and America" amid the recent price hike of LPG and other fuels.
"LPG and fuel prices are all rising; trade is going to become more difficult under the circumstances. In the middle of all this, what is the policy of our central government under Narendra Modi? He is not fighting for his people. He is not fighting for India. He is not standing up for India. All he is doing is bowing down to America, bowing down to Israel," Priyanka Gandhi said while campaigning here.
The Kollam seat is set to see a triangular contest between the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While the ruling Communist Party (Marxist) is fielding N Jayamohan, Congress has decided to field Bindu Krishna, while Prathap Kumar is contesting on an NDA ticket.
The Congress MP further reiterated the allegations of the Prime Minister being "compromised", appealing to people to ditch the LDF and NDA, and look for a "new kind of politics", which might be found in Congress.
"Modi is himself compromised; that is why he bows down to Trump. Who is paying for all this? You are paying. You are paying to have to struggle against the price rise. You work hard to educate your children, but they cannot get jobs because job creation has not happened in the last 10 years. What I see is selfish and serving politics. I would like to appeal to you that you need a new kind of politics, governance in your state today," Gandhi said.
"It is your right to educate your children, your right to get jobs, a right for anganwadi and ASHA workers to get better wages," she added.
The prices of LPG cylinders have been revised upward with effect from April 1, with commercial and smaller cylinders witnessing a significant increase across key cities.
In Delhi, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder has been increased to Rs 2,078.50, marking a rise of Rs 195.50. Meanwhile, the 5 kg FTL cylinder is now priced at Rs 549 per refill, reflecting an increase of Rs 51.
Following her public rally in Kollam, Gandhi went to Thiruvanathapuram's Kowdior, where she highlighted the UDF's 'five Indira guarantees'.
"I want to ask you to look back at your life over the past 10 years. Has the quality of life improved? Have the health services in Keralam, has this govt (LDF) done anything good in education? I know all of you struggle to educate your children. Most of your children are well educated. Do they have good job opportunities in Keralam? If a young person wants to start their own small business or industry, do they get support from the government? What about your household expenses going up or down? What has this govt done for you in these 10 years? Nothing? Then what should you do now?" the Congress MP asked.
"This is just a small part of a larger vision to build Kerala into a much better place, with a much better future. With these five guarantees, I am looking to give you some relief from your struggles," Gandhi said.
"First is women across Kerala will be given free bus travel, wherever they want to go. The Congress has implemented this in Karnataka very successfully. Rs 3,000 of pension will be given to elderly and vulnerable people. If you are a young man or woman who wants to start their own business, the government will give a Rs 5 lakh loan interest-free. Every household will get 25 lakh health insurance," she added.
Earlier in the day, the Congress-led UDF alliance unveiled its manifesto for the Kerala Assembly polls, scheduled to be held in exactly a week.
Leader of Opposition and Congress leader VD Satheesan, along with other United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders, released the party's election manifesto.
Polling for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections will be held on April 9, with the counting of votes on May 4. The tenure of the current assembly is set to conclude on May 23.