The BJP on Thursday dismissed the Kerala government’s allegations of neglect by the Centre as politically motivated, accusing the LDF of deliberately stalling key development projects to deflect attention from pressing issues. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the claims were aimed at shifting focus away from controversies such as the Sabarimala gold theft case and rising inflation.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme at the Ernakulam Press Club in Kochi, Chandrasekhar, along with Twenty20 chairman Sabu M. Jacob, alleged that the LDF government prioritises political controversies over the state’s development. He argued that the Centre has significantly increased financial support to Kerala, contradicting allegations of discrimination.
According to Chandrasekhar, Kerala’s share of tax devolution has risen by 38%, translating into an additional ₹37,000 crore for the state. He also pointed out that Central grant-in-aid has doubled from ₹13,000 crore to ₹26,500 crore. He said that even with a significant rise in Central funding, the state government persists in claiming neglect.
Highlighting stalled infrastructure projects, Chandrasekhar said Metroman E. Sreedharan, along with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), is currently preparing the detailed project report for the proposed high-speed rail corridor in Kerala. He also noted that AIIMS was sanctioned for Kerala in 2017 alongside Madurai, but while the Madurai AIIMS is already operational, Kerala has failed to hand over the required land.
He further alleged that the Centre had allocated ₹600 crore for the ESI Medical College in Kollam, but the project did not progress due to lack of cooperation from the state government. Chandrasekhar claimed the LDF was attempting to create controversies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections instead of facilitating development initiatives.
