Addressing supporters, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition stated, “In Delhi, there is a man who thinks there is nobody who can lead India other than him, called Modi and in Kerala, there is a fellow who thinks there is nobody in Kerala who can lead Kerala except him. Look at the arrogance in these people that they think that they are the only people who can lead Kerala and the country. Both of them are in partnership. They’re supporting each other…Prime Minister Modi comes here, and in every speech, he talks about God, Hinduism, and religion. But in Kerala, he does not talk about Sabarimala and the gold stolen from Sabarimala.”

Gandhi further claimed he was the main target of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Income Tax Department, and the BJP’s media cell. “I fight the BJP. I walked 4,000 kilometres from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. I was interrogated for 55 hours by the Enforcement Directorate. I am out on bail. My Lok Sabha membership was cancelled. I am the main target of the ED, the income tax department, and the BJP’s media cell,” he added.

He questioned why Pinarayi Vijayan and his family had not been investigated. “How come the BJP does not attack the Chief Minister of Kerala? How come no interrogation of him and his family? Everyone knows the CM of Kerala is corrupt. Prime Minister Modi comes here and does not talk about the Sabarimala temple or the gold theft because he wants to protect the CM,” Gandhi alleged.

The Congress leader also referred to an advertisement campaign in Kerala featuring the Chief Minister's image with the tagline ‘Who else’, which he said implied no one else could lead the state effectively.

On Kerala's response during his conflicts with the BJP, Gandhi said, “When I was attacked by the BJP every day, Kerala stood by me. UDF and LDF people both looked after me. All of Kerala protected me when I needed protection.”

He accused the LDF of initiating a new campaign in Kerala that aligned the state chief minister with the BJP, stating, “Today, there’s a new campaign launched by the LDF in Keralam. The approach of your CM to the BJP is what you say that I’ll do. Donald Trump controls Narendra Modi, and Narendra Modi controls your CM.”

The political environment in Kerala has intensified as voting for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections is scheduled for April 9, with counting on May 4. The current Assembly’s tenure ends on May 23. Kerala has been governed by the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) for the last decade.

In the 2021 elections, the LDF secured 99 seats, marking the first time since 1977 that an incumbent government was re-elected consecutively. The United Democratic Front (UDF) won 41 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), did not win any seats despite 11.4 per cent vote share. Following that victory, Pinarayi Vijayan became the first Kerala Chief Minister to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term. The CPI(M) emerged as the largest party with 62 seats; Congress won 21; and the CPI secured 17. The Indian Union Muslim League, an essential UDF ally, obtained 15 seats.

The LDF coalition also includes parties such as Kerala Congress (M), Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the Nationalist Congress Party, while the UDF comprises Congress, Kerala Congress, and the Indian Union Muslim League. The NDA, led by the BJP, features regional parties including Twenty 20, Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, and Kerala Kamaraj Congress.