Rahul takes the battle to Left's south bastion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a clear demonstration of the Congress' confidence in reversing its fortunes in the coming elections in Kerala, where it drew a blank the last time.
The party fielded Rahul Gandhi to launch its Lok Sabha campaign in the state on Thursday. Watched by Union minister A K Antony and Vyalar Ravi, Rahul addressed a huge gathering on Shanmugham beach in Thiruvananthapuram, using the occasion to criticise the ruling Left Front in the state, his party's ally at the Centre only a few months ago.
The Congress lost all the seats it contested in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections in the state, which was won by the Left Front (18 seats).External affairs minister E Ahamed won for Muslim League. The other MP was P C Thomas, who is now with the Left.
The Left came in for some severe criticism from the Congress general secretary who slammed them for "non-performance, corruption and infighting''.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the Kerala Raksha March (Save Kerala March) led by state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala, Rahul said the central government allocated about Rs 40,000 crore worth of projects for the state, but the people got little benefits. "The government of Kerala is not able to deliver goods to the people of the state,'' he said.
The young leader also did not forget to snub the CPM over "corruption at the highest levels of the government, infighting in the party, law and order situation in the state and the widespread unemployment''.
Rahul also struck a note of sympathy for those returning from the Gulf due to global recession. "I've seen the labour of the people of Kerala. It is visible to the world in Dubai,'' he said adding he was saddened by the fact that many of them who went to Dubai are now struggling because of the global economic downturn. Rahul called on the party leaders to "devise a concept on how we can help them''.
Lavishing praise on the state, he said Kerala had taught the country that inclusive growth was possible.