Kasaragod, February 6: The United Democratic Front (UDF), led by Congress, officially kicked off its election campaign from Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala, by launching the ‘Puthuyuga Yatra’ (Journey to a New Era) on Friday. The schedule for the assembly elections is expected to be announced in the first week of March.
K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and MP from Alappuzha, flagged off the journey in the presence of leaders from UDF constituent parties, handing the flag to team leader and opposition leader V.D. Satheesan.
The yatra will traverse all 14 districts of the state, covering every assembly constituency, and will conclude with a grand public meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on March 7.
Satheesan stated that this journey marks the beginning of a decisive political battle against the failures, corruption, and misgovernance of the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, which has been in power for a decade.
He emphasized that Kerala is facing an unprecedented financial crisis, with the state’s economy in turmoil. Development and welfare activities have stalled, and the rising debt is expected to reach nearly 6 lakh crore rupees by the end of the government’s term.
Satheesan remarked that the healthcare system is “on a ventilator” and warned that if the trend of students going abroad for education continues, Kerala will become an aging state in just a few years.
He pointed out the crisis in the agricultural sector, the troubles faced by coastal communities, increasing wildlife attacks, and the failure to provide basic grants to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students.
Unlike traditional election campaigns, the Puthuyuga Yatra will focus not only on criticizing the government but also on presenting a credible vision for Kerala’s future.
Satheesan noted that the UDF has prepared region-specific vision documents in collaboration with experts over the past two years and will announce phased, long-term projects based on Kerala’s strengths. Approximately 75% of the yatra will be dedicated to discussions on job creation, healthcare, education, and structural reforms.
He asserted that there will be no compromise on secularism, stressing that defeating communal Politics in Kerala is a top priority for the UDF. He highlighted that government corruption, including the Sabarimala gold case, will be a significant electoral issue.
Describing the journey as “the end of an era,” Satheesan expressed confidence that it signals the beginning of the end of communist rule in Kerala and a new political phase. He believes that the UDF will return to power with a decisive mandate in 2026.