Addressing a public rally in Kerala's Palakkad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over forming an alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in the state, news agency ANI reported. Without directly naming Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi stated: "A big leader of Congress has found it difficult to save the respect of his family seat in Uttar Pradesh and has made his new base in Kerala."
Taking a dig at the alliance, PM Modi stated: "To win the elections, Congress has entered into a backdoor agreement with the political wing of an organization which has been banned in the country for its anti-national tendencies."
Campaigning for the BJP-led NDA candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi called Rahul Gandhi a "crown prince", and stated that he will ask for the votes from Kerala, however, will not "say even a single word on your issues."
He further slammed Congress by claiming that it created a weak image of India in the world, while the BJP had built the country into a strong nation.
PM Modi highlighted that the developments witnessed in the nation during the last decade under NDA rule were merely a trailer, with much more yet to be achieved for both Kerala and India.
He blamed the Left government of impeding the Centre's development projects in the southern state and alleged that the Left front's governance would repeat the ruinous outcomes witnessed in other states it previously governed.
PM Modi also slammed the CPI(M)-led government in Kerala, citing the Karuvannur Cooperative bank scam as evidence of the Left party's alleged exploitation of funds belonging to the underprivileged.
Polling in Kerala for the Lok Sabha elections is slated to be held on April 26 for all 20 seats. This is Modi's sixth visit to the southern state. Earlier, he came to Kerala on March 19 when he held a major roadshow in Palakkad district.