Kerala , 4 April : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday placed women’s political empowerment at the centre of his campaign pitch, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to the Women’s Reservation Bill and stating that 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures would be realised and reflected in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a large NDA rally in Tiruvalla, he said Parliament would take up discussions on the Bill from April 16 to 18 and urged all parties to extend unanimous and constructive support.
The Prime Minister emphasised welfare measures aimed at improving women’s quality of life, including housing, access to drinking water, and a proposed free cancer vaccine programme for teenage girls. He said these initiatives would gain further momentum in Kerala under a double-engine NDA government.
Dismissing apprehensions around delimitation, he clarified that no Lok Sabha seats in Kerala or Tamil Nadu would be reduced, countering what he described as rumours being spread to create concern among voters.
Highlighting public response during his यात्रा, he noted the significant turnout along his route from Kochi to Tiruvalla via Changanassery, describing it as a continuous human chain.
Criticism Of Rivals, Development Pitch
Turning to governance, the Prime Minister criticised both the LDF and the Congress-led UDF, accusing them of alternating in power without delivering tangible progress.
Despite Kerala’s strengths in tourism and the blue economy, he said the state continues to lag due to infrastructure gaps, including poor roads, limited bridges, and issues at Kottayam Medical College.
He asserted that the Centre has provided strong financial support to Kerala, claiming allocations were five times higher than under previous Congress-led governments. He also cited Rs 13,000 crore in assistance to farmers, including rubber growers.
Pointing to development in Christian-majority states in the Northeast and Goa under NDA rule, he expressed confidence that Kerala could achieve similar growth.
He warned that corruption, communalism, and rising youth migration were hindering progress, urging voters to back the NDA for inclusive, women-led development.
