Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has criticized the Union Budget, labeling it a political maneuver that reflects the central government’s disregard for the state of Kerala. The state government has requested a special economic aid package of ₹24,000 crore to assist those affected by recent landslides, in addition to the previously established Wayanad package. However, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has overlooked these requests.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the Centre has also disregarded Kerala’s appeal for a special package for the Vizhinjam International Container Terminal Project. Despite the budget allocating nearly ₹25 lakh crore to various states, Kerala’s share amounts to less than ₹40,000 crore, which Vijayan termed discriminatory. In response, he has called for protests to challenge the Union Government’s stance.
Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan echoed these sentiments, criticizing the budget for failing to address the needs of landslide victims in Wayanad. He claimed that the budget proposals represent a political agenda rather than genuine assistance. He also noted the absence of Kerala’s long-standing requests for establishing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences or similar facility, as well as the need for special support for the industry and agriculture sectors, and addressing climate change issues.
