00:02Rubber is a big issue in the Kerala election.
00:0690% of rubber is grown here.
00:12And Kotaayam is known as the land of latex.
00:17The rubber industry consists of many many small farmers
00:21who have to face the instability of the market everyday.
00:27The left front made a commitment to these farmers some years back.
00:31In their 2016 manifesto they promised that they will maintain rubber prices at 250 rupees.
00:39And you know the reality of what happened.
00:42They did not fulfill their promise over the last 10 years.
00:46And in 2026 they have announced a price of 200 rupees.
00:51When today the market price is 220.
00:53We are not in the business of making fake promises.
00:57We are in the business of protecting our farmers.
01:00That their lives are easier and more comfortable.
01:04That is why the first cabinet meeting of the next UDF government
01:10will fix the price of rubber at 250 rupees.
01:14In fact that will be the first decision that the cabinet of Kerala is going to take when it is
01:23formed.
01:23In our manifesto we have said that we will raise the price to 300 rupees a kilo.
01:32And it is our commitment that on the first day of the new government the price will be 250 and
01:40then it will go up to 300.
01:43And we are doing this because we believe that farmers and laborers are the foundation of this state and of
01:53our country.
01:55When I was asked which are the constituencies where I have to go in campaign in Kerala.
02:02I said one constituency that I have to absolutely go to is this one.
02:06And the reason was Uman Chandiji represented you for 50 years.
02:13He acted as a guide for you and for the people of Kerala.
02:19And we remember him fondly.
02:21I remember during the Bharat Jodo Yatra when I told him please do not walk.
02:28He was insisting on walking even though he was not well.
02:31And his funeral procession took 30 hours.
02:35So that should give you a sense of what the ex-Chief Minister of Kerala Uman Chandi Ji was.
02:43And that is why I said that I will come here and campaign for his son.
