Kerala - Kollam   

Only UDF can bring in progress: Sonia

Says State witnessed major development in the last five years

GREETING SUPPORTERS: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her arrival to address a UDF election convention in Kollam on Tuesday.

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that the critics of the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government should recall what constructive work had they done for the State when they were in power for five years.

Addressing an election campaign meeting from the DCC grounds for the UDF candidates of Kollam district, Ms. Gandhi said that in the last five years the UDF Government had in a big way strengthened infrastructure, power generation, education facilities and overall development of the State.

In addition to that, the UDF had started new schemes such as Ashraya and health insurance for the poor. She said the Oommen Chandy Government had also carried forward the development agenda for Kerala declared by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. "We do not believe in sloganeering, we believe in hard work and are responsible and constructive even when in the opposition," she said.

Ms. Gandhi said the UDF resolves for promotion of peace and harmony in the State. In today's world of religious hatred, Kerala is an outstanding example of how people could live and work together, she said. However, of late Kerala faces new challenges but the UDF Government was capable of overcoming all those challenges. "Time and again the Congress and the UDF have demonstrated what we are capable of," she said.

Stating that the United Progressive Alliance Government was paying special attention to the problems of Kerala, particularly the farm economy and the traditional industries, Ms. Gandhi pointed out that the Centre had cleared projects like the Vallarpadam Container Terminal and the expansion of the National Thermal Power Corporation project at Kayamkulam.

If the UDF Government was voted back to power, it would ensure that all the projects which had been initiated would be promoted with new enthusiasm. She urged the people of the State to vote for the UDF so that ``we can continue to work for a prosperous and happy Kerala.''

In his address, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that "commission for some" is the CPI(M) agenda for development. The UDF sees development as an agenda for promoting employment opportunities in the State. He said that the Smart City project is one of the most important programmes in this connection.

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala presided. A big crowd had gathered at the DCC grounds to hear Ms. Gandhi's address. She arrived at the venue shortly after 3 p.m. All the 12 UDF candidates in the district were introduced to her. DCC president Sooranad Rajashekaran welcomed the gathering and the UDF candidate from the Kollam constituency Babu Divakaran proposed a vote of thanks.

`Centre supportive'

Our Pathanamthitta Staff Reporter writes:

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has said that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government, headed by Manmohan Singh, has always been supportive to the developmental as well as the socio-economic and welfare needs of Kerala.

Ms Gandhi was addressing an election rally of the UDF candidates in the central Travancore district of Pathanamthitta at the District Stadium here on Monday afternoon.

She said that the Manmohan Singh Government had facilitated all necessary clearances for the allotment of forest land required for implementing various development projects in Sabarimala.

Kerala had witnessed tremendous growth and development in various core sectors under the Governments led by A.K. Antony and Oommen Chandy. She said new investments were necessary to fulfil the developmental needs of the State in the years ahead and the Congress-led UDF should retain power so as to ensure continuation of the developmental policy and investment initiatives launched by it in the past five years, she added.

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala presided over the meeting. Chief Minister Ooommen Chandy and P.J. Kurien, Rajya Sabha member, spoke.

Ms Gandhi introduced the UDF candidates, K. Sivadasan Nair (Pathanamthitta), Peelipose Thomas, (Ranni), Adoor Prakash (Konni), Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (Adoor), Malethu Saraladevi (Aranmula), Joseph M. Puthusserry (Kallooppara), Victor T. Thomas (Thiruvalla) and K.K. Shaju (Pandalam) on the occasion.

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