Kerala's Ruling LDF Accuses Centre Of Stalling State's Development Momentum
CM Pinarayi, Cabinet colleagues lead satyagraha against Centre's `vendetta' politics
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the crucial assembly elections just months away, the CPM-led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of stalling the state’s development momentum.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused both the LDF and UDF of failing to deliver progress due to flawed policies, while promising the people a “Viksita Kerala” vision from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urging them to end what he called the “match-fixing” between the two fronts by giving the BJP a chance to govern.
Speaking at the inauguration of the LDF leaders’ Satyagraha, alongside his Cabinet colleagues, at Palayam Martyrs Square in Thiruvananthapuram, the Chief Minister outlined several discriminatory actions by the Centre against Kerala.
He said arrears of funds due under central schemes up to September 2025 amount to a staggering ₹5,783.69 crore, including ₹636.88 crore for NHM, ₹750.90 crore in UGC benefits, ₹54.19 crore for food security, ₹1,206.69 crore for paddy procurement, and ₹1,148.13 crore for Samagra Shiksha Kerala.
Pinarayi countered Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim on Sunday that Kerala had been given a larger share compared to earlier times, stating, “The distribution of shares through the Commissions isn’t anyone’s generosity; it is a constitutional entitlement of the states.”
He clarified that Kerala is not asking for anything undeserved and that the government is fighting for the survival of its people.
The Chief Minister accused the Centre of engaging in vendetta politics toward Kerala. Despite what he described as the Centre’s step-motherly attitude, the opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP have not spoken up for the state’s needs. Instead of questioning the Centre’s approach, the opposition is blaming the state government to score political points, which he called extremely unfortunate. “Everyone needs to stand together in this fight for Kerala’s survival, regardless of political differences,” he said during the Satyagraha.
The state unit of the BJP is going all out in supporting the Centre's anti-people policies.
The Centre’s alleged vendetta politics of financially squeezing the state will be a major theme in the LDF’s campaign ahead of the assembly polls. The LDF plans to highlight how development has been slowed by the Centre’s lack of cooperation and the UDF’s approach of sparing the Centre while targeting the state government.
The Chief Minister said that during the 14th Finance Commission period, Kerala received Rs 16,833 crore and Rs 19,038 crore in 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively. During the 15th Commission period, it received Rs 11,560 crore in 2020-21, and Rs 17,890 crore and Rs 18,961 crore in 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively. This shows that the tax share has decreased compared to the previous commission period, a reduction that has never happened before.
