Despite BJP’s newfound foothold in Kerala, state receives no support for infrastructure or tourism, leaving locals and analysts frustrated
Annie Raja during her Lok Sabha election campaign. Pics/Atul Kamble
The first budget post—the General Elections has left people from God's Own Country disappointed as there was neither any mention of Kerala, nor any fund allocated for any infrastructure or tourism development. This is shocking as the State voted for change in a few pockets for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) thus providing it a foothold in the state.
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The State had never voted for the central ruling party before but did so for the first time with a Christian majority Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency where actor Suresh Gopi, stomped to a stunning victory, thus making the party’s Kerala debut in the Lok Sabha.
PM Narendra Modi, had said during the election campaign that, ‘Kerala (is)close to my heart’. All that so-called closeness and a resounding victory with a vote account opening for the BJP has resulted in naught in the annual Budget presented by Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Seetharaman.
MG Radhakrishnan, Ex journalist
Annie Raja of CPIM, who contested from Wayand shed light on the State not getting a mention in the Budget. “The BJP is keen to save its own government in the centre and hence gave special packages to Andhra (Rs 15,000 crores) and Bihar (Rs 26,000 crores).”
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by N Chandrababu Naidu and the Janata Dal United (JDU) led by Nitish Kumar have lent their support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and have been handsomely rewarded in the Budget with multiple infrastructure projects.
Experts in Kerala say that BJP has proved it again that it is not concerned with the welfare of the people of Kerala and that all their promises have remained hollow.
Political pundits warn that the step motherly treatment given to the State will rebound for the BJP in the coming panchayat election and the 2026 state election.
BJP trying to save its government
“The very fact that special packages have been provided to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar in this budget is evident that BJP is keen to please its allies in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. And for states like Kerala, which have no mention or financial package allocated in the union budget, it is itself evident that the central leadership of BJP, are making hollow promises during election to lure the common man by talking about ‘sab ka saat sab ka vikas. However, in reality, they are only concerned about their party (BJP) vikas and not the growth of common man,” said Annie Raja, the Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate, who contested the Loksabha election from Wayand district of Kerala.
Wayanad tribals deserve upliftment
Annie Raja added, “It is unfortunate that huge package is allocated to Bihar for upliftment of backward areas, especially for the tribal welfare, but Kerala’s Wayand, too is one of the most backward tribal areas, awaiting upliftment for decades and they too deserve upliftment, but nothing came there way. The Central leadership of BJP, should use public funds for welfare of all States, rather than handpicking their alliance partners, which is nothing but showcasing open favouritism and a political gimmick.”
She continued, “Secondly, the union budget will adversely impact BJP’s cine star leader from Thrissur, Suresh Gopi, who had been repeatedly boasting about infrastructural development and promoting tourism in Kerala. Moreover PM Modi, echoed similar views. BJP’s failure to allocate budgetary provisions to Kerala, in itself exposes the party’s lies.”
Irrigation and Flood mitigation
Special announcement was made in the Union budget for providing assistance for flood management and related projects in Assam, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
“Kerala too has faced similar issues in the past and is even now grappling through extreme weather conditions, especially during monsoon, nearly causing flash flood like situation, irrespective of all difficulties, there is no support or mention about any financial assistance to Kerala in the Budget,” said Annie Raja.
Kerala people voted for development but got nothing
MG Radhakrishnan, political analyst from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala said, “The budget did not offer any allocation to the State. Infact last week, Suresh Gopi – the newly elected State Minister from Kerala – had confidently announced that Kerala would ‘least be getting the much awaited All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS).’ This clearly shows that Kerala has always been given a step motherly treatment, despite a BJP part man making it to Parliament. They (BJP leaders) forgot that people of Kerala were looking for a change and believed every poll promise made by none other than the Prime Minister himself during his multiple visits to Kerala and also by Suresh Gopi.”
State Finance Minister had been to Delhi
K N Balagopal, Kerala State Finance Minister, had visited Delhi and had even submitted a 23 to 25- points memorandum to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a few days prior to the budget. He had requested for fund allocations, said Radhakrishanan.
Long way to go
BJP still has a long way to go, for it has not established any credibility, as an alternative to the LDF or the UDF.
For the first time, the Christians in Thrissur, who would otherwise cast their votes to Congress, also voted for BJP. They pinned their hopes on the long pending demand for Metro connectivity Aluwa to Thrissur, and infrastructure development to enable job opportunities in the constituency. Given the no - show for Kerala in the first Budget of the newly elected coalition government, it will not be easy for people to once again trust BJP or its leaders.
The BJP high command should not forget that the Kerala Panchayat Election is due in 2025 and with the State election following a year later. And any failure to execute the promises made, will prove to be a debacle for BJP, which opened its account in the state, since coming to power in 2014, pointed out Radhakrishnan.
What ails Kerala
Kerala is a plantation economy and is dependent on international prices. Kerala has to get into new areas for development. For the social economy, the State has to earn more money. The tax rates are high, and the State has collected the money where it can. Most of the Public sector undertakings are at a loss. But because of left-of-centre political thinking, it wants to continue. In terms of ideas to bail out Kerala’s weak programs, out-of-the-box ideas are needed. Higher education numbers are high, but quality is lacking. Kerala has to find solutions for its issues as politically it is fragmented, he concluded.
Other side
A senior BJP party official from Thrissur, down played the situation stating, “It is PM Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath Sab Ka Visa’, and both Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have proved there alliance by supporting BJP in forming the government, so they need to be suitably rewarded, and hence the huge funds were allocated to them in the budget. Moreover, Bihar is one of the most backward states in the country, and the fund allocation was done with an intent to uplift backward areas of Bihar, which was always left in the lurch. However, this does not mean nothing will be coming to Kerala. And if congress and CPI feel that they would use this as a trump card to pounce on Suresh Gopi for his failure, then they are mistaken. We must understand that the panchayat election will happen in 2025 and subsequently the State election in 2026, and the possibility of fund allocations for Kerala, from the centre cannot be ruled out, in the near future.”
Rs 15,000 cr
Budget allocated to AP
Rs 26,000 cr
Budget allocated to Bihar
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