Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday kick-started an aggressive election campaign in southern India, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to form governments in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for this summer.
Addressing a massive BJP rally in Thiruvananthapuram, Modi sought a decisive mandate from the people of Kerala, promising development-driven governance and accountability. He accused both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) of rampant corruption and divisive politics, claiming that despite having different political symbols, their agendas were essentially the same.
Targeting the Left government, the Prime Minister raised the alleged gold theft issue at the Sabarimala temple, calling it an insult to faith and tradition. “Gold has been stolen from God. Once a BJP government is formed, the matter will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will be sent to jail. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said. He also criticized the Congress for its association with the Muslim League, accusing it of promoting hardline elements in the state.
Modi highlighted the BJP’s recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which ended more than four decades of Left rule, and expressed confidence that the party’s footprint in Kerala would continue to expand. He drew parallels with Gujarat, recalling how the BJP’s rise there began with limited political presence before emerging as a dominant force.
During his visit, the Prime Minister also launched several development projects, including new train services, and held a large roadshow in the state capital, where party workers displayed placards reading “Vikasita Keralam” (Developed Kerala).
Later in the day, Modi travelled to Tamil Nadu, where he addressed a massive National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rally at Maduranthakam near Chennai, marking the formal launch of the NDA’s 2026 Assembly election campaign in the state. He mounted a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), branding it as “CMC,” an abbreviation he said stood for “Corruption, Mafia, and Crime.”
“The people of Tamil Nadu have decided to uproot the DMK. Its countdown has begun,” Modi declared, alleging widespread corruption, rising crime, and the growing menace of drugs under the DMK regime. He claimed that youth were increasingly falling prey to narcotics while women were facing safety concerns.
The Prime Minister also accused the DMK of indulging in vote-bank politics, citing controversies such as the Thirupparankundram Lord Murugan Temple Karthigai lamp lighting issue. He emphasized the need for a “double-engine” government in Tamil Nadu that works in close coordination with the Centre to accelerate development.
The rally witnessed the presence of top NDA leaders, including AIADMK chief and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, PMK leader Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, and Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) president G.K. Vasan, signaling a show of unity and strength ahead of the elections.
Recalling the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Modi said her administration had effectively controlled crime, contrasting it with the current situation. “Women are suffering today,” he said, urging voters to support the NDA for stability, security, and growth.