Another yatra in Kerala; Cong launches 'Padayaorukkam'

The Congress-led UDF today launched a month-long march - Padayaorukkam - against the "anti-people" policies of the CPI(M)-headed LDF government in Kerala and the BJP dispensation at the Centre.
The march, being led by senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, was flagged off by Congress working committee member A K Antony at Uppala in northernmost Kasaragod district this evening.
This is third such march being undertaken in Kerala after the BJP's 'Janaraksha Yatra' and LDF's 'Janajagratha March'.
Party sources said the march is expected to cover 140 assembly constituencies during which signatures against the "misdeeds" of the two governments will be collected.

The march will conclude at Thiruvanathapuram on December 1, when Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to address party workers, they said.
In his address, Antony said the march is a "strong warning" to the Modi government which had "caused immense hardships" to the common man through its several policies, including demonetisation and GST.

Hitting out at the BJP government at the Centre, Antony said the hike in LPG prices had made the life of common man difficult.
"This is a birthday gift which the Centre has given to Kerala on its formation day today," he said.
Attacking the Pinarayi Vijayan government for its "anti- people policies and politics of violence," he alleged it was maintaining a "soft" approach towards BJP-RSS.

The two governments have only one aim -- that in the next Lok Sabha elections, the strength of UDF MPs should decrease, Antony said.
He also alleged that the CPI(M)'s aim was to help the BJP grow in Kerala and to not allow opposition unity against the Modi government at the national-level.
Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, IUML leader and MP, P K Kunhalikutty, AICC general secretary in-charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnick, and leaders of the coalition partners were among those present at the inaugural function.
The march has been launched at a time the government is set to table in the state assembly a judicial commission report on the alleged solar scam at a special one-day session on November 9.

The government has decided to initiate vigilance probe against senior Congress leaders, including Chandy, on the basis of the report.
Several central Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Sachin Pilot, and chief ministers of Punjab, Karnataka and Puducherry are expected to address rallies during the 30-day march.