Manjeswaram (Kerala): Projecting a "successful united face" of various Congress party leaders and cohesion among ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) constituents, Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony today (Apr 20, 2004) kicked off his high-pitched election campaign for the success of UDF candidates in the State, asserting that Congress' sole aim was to "oust the fascist BJP-led NDA Government" at the Centre.

"This time the sole agenda before the Congress is to oust the fascist BJP-led NDA Government, which has degraded India's image among the global community," Antony, who leads the fortnight-long 'Navothana Yatra', told a well-attended gathering at Hosangady near Manjeswaram.

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If the 45-year-old Congress rule could ensure development on socialist pattern and enhance the country's image among the global community, the NDA Government's six-year tenure had only helped in eroding the hard-earned prime place, he said.

"Today, we witness a strange phenomenon whereby India is showing shyness in openly expressing herself against the misdeeds of US imperialism and other happenings around the world. By increasing unemployment and its merciless divorcement of profit-making PSUs, the BJP has spoiled the country's image among nations," he said, stressing the need for reinstating a Congress-led secular Government at the Centre.

Coming down heavily on the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is the main political rival to the Congress in the State, he said unlike other States, Kerala could not tread the development path primarily owing to the "anti-development policies" pursued by the LDF over the past years.