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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

LDF battles voter discontent driven by anti-incumbency

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with party leaders during a public meeting ahead of the Kerala assembly elections in Kallachi, Kerala on Tuesday. | Pic: PTI Kerala: Kerala's assembly elections face surging anti-incumbency against LDF after a decade in power, fueled by corruption, nepotism, unemployment, and youth migration. Rahul and Modi intensify a tight triangular race with UDF slightly ahead.   Kerala's political landscape stands at a decisive crossroads. As the state...

LDF battles voter discontent driven by anti-incumbency

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with party leaders during a public meeting ahead of the Kerala assembly elections in Kallachi, Kerala on Tuesday. | Pic: PTI Kerala: Kerala's assembly elections face surging anti-incumbency against LDF after a decade in power, fueled by corruption, nepotism, unemployment, and youth migration. Rahul and Modi intensify a tight triangular race with UDF slightly ahead.   Kerala's political landscape stands at a decisive crossroads. As the state heads toward elections for its 140-member Legislative Assembly, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) faces its most formidable challenge yet: a growing wave of anti-incumbency. After nearly a decade in power, public discontent against the government appears to be steadily consolidating into a broader electoral sentiment. Pre-poll surveys and the outcomes of local body elections both indicate that a significant section of the electorate is dissatisfied with the government's performance.   Adding further intrigue to this electoral contest is the high-voltage campaigning by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both leaders have turned Kerala into a central arena for advancing their respective political narratives, intensifying the tussle, and sharpening the stakes.   At the heart of this election lies the issue of anti-incumbency, which has emerged as the defining theme of the campaign. Survey data suggests that nearly 31 percent of respondents rate the government's performance as "very poor," while over 20 percent describe it as "poor." Such figures serve as a stark warning for any incumbent administration. A perceived lack of progress on the development front, limited employment opportunities, and the continued outmigration of youth have further deepened this undercurrent of dissatisfaction.   Corruption Allegations Allegations of corruption have further fueled public discontent. The Karuvannur cooperative bank scam has dealt a significant blow to the government's credibility. In addition, controversies surrounding the gold associated with the Sabarimala temple, alleged irregularities in bar license renewals, and accusations of financial mismanagement in various projects have provided the opposition with ample ammunition to target the ruling dispensation. Seizing on these issues, PM Modi, in multiple rallies, accused both the LDF and the UDF of "corruption and opportunism," describing their approach as a "double game" in politics.   On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi has sought to corner the government by placing public concerns at the center of his campaign. He has launched sharp attacks on the LDF government over unemployment, rising prices, and alleged corruption. Notably, his rallies have witnessed strong participation from youth and minority communities, an encouraging sign for the Congress.   Meanwhile, the issue of nepotism has also emerged as a prominent theme in this election. The government has faced serious allegations over the appointment of relatives and close associates to ministers' personal staff. The opposition has branded this as the "Pinarayi model of nepotism." Both the Congress and the BJP have raised this issue aggressively, with PM Modi describing it as "dynastic politics" and directly placing both the LDF and the UDF in the dock.   Unpredictable Contest From an electoral standpoint, the contest is equally compelling. Kerala has traditionally witnessed a relatively muted anti-incumbency effect, with a significant number of legislators managing to secure re-election. This time as well, the LDF has re-nominated around 56 of its sitting MLAs, while the Congress has placed its trust in several of its established faces. At the same time, both parties have shown signs of internal discontent and rebellion over ticket distribution, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already closely fought battle.   Tight Race Pre-poll surveys suggest a slight edge for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), though both the LDF and the NDA remain firmly in contention. Approximately 8 percent of voters are reportedly still undecided, which could decisively influence the result of the election.   PM Modi's frequent visits and high-intensity campaigning have also pushed the BJP to position this contest as a triangular one. While the party's footprint in Kerala remains limited, its efforts to expand its vote share could significantly influence the electoral arithmetic.   Taken together, this election in Kerala is not merely about a change of government, but about defining the state's political trajectory. On one hand, the wave of anti-incumbency poses a serious challenge to the LDF. Another side, the Congress is striving to convert this sentiment into a tangible electoral advantage. The aggressive campaigning by high-profile leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi has elevated the contest to national prominence. All eyes are now on the polling and counting dates. It remains to be seen whether Kerala's voters will follow their traditional pattern of alternating power, or whether the LDF can defy the odds and script history once again.

US Vice President JD Vance, his family arrive in Delhi

  • PTI
  • Apr 21, 2025
  • 2 min read


NEW DELHI: US Vice President J D Vance arrived here on Monday on a four-day visit to India against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the two strategic partners to address a variety of issues, including tariff and market access.


Vance is accompanied by his Indian-origin wife Usha Chilukuri and their three children Ewan, Vivek, Mirabel and a delegation of senior US government officials.


The US Vice President and the Second Lady were received at the Palam air base by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.


The American leader was also accorded a ceremonial welcome on his arrival.

In the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for the Vances after holding wide-ranging talks with the US Vice President.


External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian ambassador to US Vinay Mohan Kwatra are expected to be part of the Indian team to be led by PM Modi at the talks.


The focus of the meeting is likely to be on early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact as well as ways to boost overall trajectory of ties between the two countries.


Besides Delhi, Vance and his family will travel to Jaipur and Agra.

Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India.


New Delhi and Washington are now holding negotiations to seal a bilateral trade agreement that is expected to address a variety of issues, including tariff and market access.


Vance and his family are scheduled to leave for Jaipur on Monday night.

In Delhi, the US Vice President and his family are staying at the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel.


On April 22, the Vances will visit a number of historical sites in Jaipur, including the Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort. The fort is a UNESCO world heritage site.


In the afternoon, the US Vice President is scheduled to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur.


Vance is expected to delved into broader aspects of India-US relations under the Donald Trump administration during his speech that is expected to be attended by diplomats, foreign policy experts, Indian government officials and academia.


The US Vice President and his family will travel to Agra on the morning of April 23, people familiar with the matter said.


In Agra, they will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram which is an open air emporium showcasing various Indian artefacts, they said.


After concluding their visit to Agra, the Vances will return to Jaipur on the second half of April 23.


The US Vice President and his family will depart for the US from Jaipur on April 24, according to the people cited above.

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