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New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi became a trending topic on social media platform 'X' following the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, which was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The ceasefire, mediated by the United States, drew sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Congress party, which accused the central government of "succumbing" to foreign pressure.

The Congress and its leaders took to 'X' to draw parallels between the current situation and the 1971 India-Pakistan war under Indira Gandhi’s leadership. The official handles of the Congress and Kerala Congress posted images of the former prime minister with captions praising her courage and strength. "Indira Gandhi. COURAGE | CONVICTION | STRENGTH," read a post from the Congress’s main handle, while party leader Supriya Shrinate added, “It is not easy to be Indira Gandhi.”

Kerala Congress official 'X' handle also shared a post of former PM Indira Gandhi addressing media in the US, where she is heard saying, " It is not the task of any one country to say to another what they should do, even if it is a question of helping."

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called for an all-party meeting and a special Parliament session to discuss recent developments, including the terror attacks in Pahalgam and the path ahead. He also posted a letter written by Indira Gandhi to then U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1971, asserting that there was no "neutral site" in her time as there is now. “She ensured that there was no ‘neutral site’ which has now been agreed to,” he wrote.

Congress MP Manish Tewari remarked that the U.S. was openly highlighting its mediation role, calling it “third party mediation.” He noted that the agreement involved not just a ceasefire but also talks at a neutral venue, which he said was being portrayed as diplomatic intervention.

Former Youth Congress president Srinivas B.V. criticized the current regime for yielding to external pressure, contrasting it with Indira Gandhi’s defiance in 1971 despite U.S. threats. “Indira Gandhi neither stopped nor bowed down, nor got scared,” he wrote, recalling her role in the creation of Bangladesh.

The Left also expressed concerns over American involvement. CPIML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya questioned why India under Prime Minister Modi had to rely on “a long night of American mediation” for a ceasefire. He urged both countries to de-escalate and restore diplomatic relations while bringing the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice.

The Congress further posted excerpts from Indira Gandhi’s 1971 letter to Nixon: “We have our backbones straight, enough will & resources to fight all atrocities... That was courage, that was standing up for India, that was not compromising with the nation’s pride.”

Another X user, @srivatsayb, tweeted, “Today every Indian will understand.”

"But the fact remains: there has only been one #IndiraGandhi. India’s MOST powerful Prime Minister," wrote TMC MP, Sagarika Ghose.

Another user, @CheKrishnaCk, wrote, “Everyone cannot be Indira Gandhi.”

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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.

According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.

The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.

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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.

"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.

He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.

Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.

LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.

According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.

"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.

He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.

AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.

"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.

Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.

"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.

Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.

"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.

He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.

Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.

"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.

On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.

"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.

Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.

He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.

Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.

"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.

Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.

"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.

CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.

"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.

Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.

"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.

Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.

"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.

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