Speaking to the media during his campaign visit in Kerala on Sunday, Shivakumar said that the people of the state are seeking change, development, solutions to unemployment, and justice for Lord Ayyappa devotees.

"The people of Kerala want change. They are looking for development, solutions to unemployment, and justice for Lord Ayyappa. We are 100% confident that they will elect the Congress and UDF alliance with a two-thirds majority," he said.

Shivakumar strongly criticized the 10-year rule of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling it a failure.

He alleged that the state government had failed to properly investigate the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. He also questioned why neither the CPI(M)-led state government nor the BJP-led central government had ordered a CBI probe into the matter.

He further pointed to rising inflation and unemployment, stating that many people are returning to Kerala from Gulf countries, while lakhs of youth continue to migrate out of the state in search of jobs. "These are serious issues affecting the people. Only Congress can provide solutions," he added.

On Chief Ministerial Candidate

When asked about the chief ministerial face if UDF comes to power, Shivakumar said that the Congress party would decide collectively. "For us, the party is important, not an individual. We have faith in the ideology and leadership of the Congress," he said.

Responds to 'Match-Fixing' Allegations

Reacting to allegations of "match-fixing" between BJP and Congress, Shivakumar referred to the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Parliament.

"When Rahul Gandhi was elected by the people of Kerala with a huge mandate, he was disqualified over a speech made in Kolar. Is that what they call match-fixing? It is an insult to the people of Kerala," he said.

On Guarantee Schemes

Speaking about welfare schemes, Shivakumar highlighted the success of Congress' guarantee programs in Karnataka and other states.

"As Karnataka Congress president, I announced five guarantee schemes and we have fulfilled our promises. We believe in delivering what we commit. We have implemented similar guarantees in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh," he said.

He also promised that initiatives like Indira Canteens would be introduced in Kerala if UDF comes to power.

Sabarimala Issue and Election Impact

On whether the Sabarimala issue would impact the ruling LDF, Shivakumar said it would have a significant effect. "Kerala is a land of faith. People here strongly believe in religion and culture. The government must protect these sentiments. This time, the LDF government will be uprooted," he asserted.

He alleged that law and order in Kerala has deteriorated and that public dissatisfaction is growing. He cited recent electoral trends where the UDF performed strongly in Lok Sabha and local body elections. "This trend will continue, and the people will give a decisive mandate in the Assembly elections as well," he said.

On Missing Kerala Woman in Karnataka

Responding to a query about a Kerala woman who went missing during a trekking trip in Karnataka, Shivakumar said he was not aware of the issue but would gather information and respond.