Daijiworld Media Network - Kannur

Kannur, Mar 18: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan kicked off his election campaign on Wednesday with a scathing attack on the Opposition, accusing rivals of abandoning political decency and spreading false propaganda. Speaking at a Left Democratic Front (LDF) convention in his Kannur constituency, which he previously won by over 50,000 votes, Vijayan urged party workers to counter misinformation at the grassroots level.

“Their methods are worse than those of Joseph Goebbels,” he said, highlighting what he described as door-to-door campaigns filled with “blatant lies.” The convention, attended by LDF party secretary M. V. Govindan, marked Vijayan’s first public campaign meeting ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls.

The ruling CPI(M) faces a challenging political landscape following a lackluster performance in the December local body elections, widely seen as a warning sign. Internal dissent has further complicated the party’s position, particularly in Kannur, a traditional CPI(M) stronghold, where veteran leaders publicly criticised party functioning and are now contesting with support from the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

Key exits have also shaken the party’s organisational cohesion. Former cabinet colleague G. Sudhakaran has become a critic and is now backed by Congress in Ambalapuzha, while two former senior MLAs have joined the UDF.

Despite these challenges, Vijayan maintained a confident tone, stressing his government’s strong connection with the people. Acknowledging that it is impossible to personally reach every voter, he called on party workers to intensify campaign efforts across Kerala.

The upcoming polls will decide all 140 seats of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest as the LDF seeks an unprecedented third consecutive term.