Kerala’s fiscal woes appear real
1 year ago

Kerala’s fiscal woes appear real

The Hindu  

Fiscal federalism, or rather its perceived erosion in recent times, has occupied centre stage in the increasingly strained financial relations between the BJP-led Union government and the Left-ruled Kerala government in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She added that the Pinarayi Vijayan government was welcome to move the Court on the matter, but that it would merely offer her another venue to explain “what the story is really.” Ms. Sitharaman’s remarks evoked indignant replies from Mr. Vijayan and Mr. Balagopal, who, accompanied by their Cabinet colleagues, are on a State-wide bus tour meeting people. In a lengthy response, Mr. Balagopal repeated his claim that the State stood deprived of ₹57,400 crore in Central transfers and loan approvals in 2023-24 “compared to the previous fiscals.” At the heart of the latest round of fiscal fisticuffs are a set of payment demands made by Kerala on July 12 and October 7. While the LDF government accuses the Centre of “financially choking” Kerala for political gain, the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front has been critical of the State government’s extravagance.

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History of this topic

Wayanad Landslides: BJP Accuses State Govt Of 'Siphoning Off Relief Fund' As Rivals Question 'Delay In Central Aid'
3 months ago

Wayanad Landslides: BJP Accuses State Govt Of 'Siphoning Off Relief Fund' As Rivals Question 'Delay In Central Aid'

ABP News  

In the aftermath of the landslides in Wayanad, Kerala BJP criticised the state government, alleging misuse of funds. Union Minister Suresh Gopi, when questioned by the media about the delay in central assistance for the landslide-affected region, directed the query towards Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. On the other hand, BJP leader V Muraleedharan accused the Kerala government of attempting …

LDF meets amid reports of CPI(M)-CPI rift over Kerala ADGP’s continuation in office
3 months, 1 week ago

LDF meets amid reports of CPI(M)-CPI rift over Kerala ADGP’s continuation in office

The Hindu  

A crucial meeting of the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala commenced at AKG Centre in the State capital at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Shamseer’s statement that there was nothing amiss in a senior officer meeting the top leaders of an “important organisation.” Mr. Gopakumar said Mr. Shamseer’s statement ran against LDF policy. Mr. Gopakumar also addressed the controversy surrounding …

'UDF circulated communal videos during LS polls': CPI(M) leader hits back at Cong-led front in Kerala
4 months ago

'UDF circulated communal videos during LS polls': CPI(M) leader hits back at Cong-led front in Kerala

Hindustan Times  

A senior leader of Kerala's ruling Communist Party of India on Sunday accused the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front of circulating ‘communal and objectionable’ videos during campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls in the state's Vadakara constituency. CPI leader MV Govindan The statement from MV Govindan, the state secretary of the CPI, came amid continuing criticism of it by the …

Congress must introspect on its political stance: Yechury
8 months ago

Congress must introspect on its political stance: Yechury

The Hindu  

Communist Party of India general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said the Left and the CPI have been the “most consistent opposition” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a Left Democratic Front election rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, the CPI leader urged the Congress and the United Democratic Front to introspect upon its political stance in combating communal forces. In an …

Pinarayi Vijayan counters PM Modi’s portrayal of Kerala as a State in decline
8 months, 1 week ago

Pinarayi Vijayan counters PM Modi’s portrayal of Kerala as a State in decline

The Hindu  

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on April 16 sought to refute Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged portrayal of Kerala as a State in economic and social decline. Mr. Vijayan said Kerala had moved the Supreme Court against the Centre’s decision to haul down the State’s borrowing limit by premising the decision on an erroneous interpretation of Article 293 of the …

‘A gesture of compassion’: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan defends CPI(M) leaders’ visit to Panoor bomb blast victim’s residence
8 months, 2 weeks ago

‘A gesture of compassion’: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan defends CPI(M) leaders’ visit to Panoor bomb blast victim’s residence

The Hindu  

Amidst accusations connecting the Communist Party of India to the Panoor bomb blast incident in Kannur district, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has defended the party leaders who had visited the residence of Sherin, a victim of the blast. Holding that stern action will be initiated against those attempting to make bombs, he asserted that there was “no need to …

Fiscal battle: On borrowings and Kerala’s suit
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Fiscal battle: On borrowings and Kerala’s suit

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court of India order referring a suit filed by Kerala, challenging the Centre’s decisions curtailing its borrowings, to a Constitution Bench is a welcome development. The Court declined to grant an interim order to restore the position prior to the imposition of borrowing limits by the Centre, but the referral will give a larger Bench an opportunity to …

SC blames Kerala for its financial woes, rejects state's request for additional borrowing
8 months, 3 weeks ago

SC blames Kerala for its financial woes, rejects state's request for additional borrowing

Op India  

On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected Kerala’s request for immediate relief, attributing the state’s financial woes to its mishandling of funds. Kerala’s plea for increased borrowing was turned down, and the court referred the state’s challenge against the Centre’s borrowing restrictions to a Constitution bench for further scrutiny. The court’s observation of financial mismanagement within the state countered LDF’s claims …

BJP’s attempts to poach CPI(M) discontents in Kerala remains an elusive holy grail
9 months ago

BJP’s attempts to poach CPI(M) discontents in Kerala remains an elusive holy grail

The Hindu  

The Bharatiya Janata Party ‘s Kerala unit has attracted a motley crew of disaffected Congress leaders and workers to its fold. The BJP’s Kerala in-charge, Prakash Javadekar, put the political rumour mill on overdrive by hosting S. Rajendran, former CPI legislator from Idukki district, at the party’s national headquarters in New Delhi on March 20. However, of late, Mr. Rajendran …

Kerala Cong launches protest against policies of LDF, Centre
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Kerala Cong launches protest against policies of LDF, Centre

Hindustan Times  

Kochi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress in Kerala launched a mega statewide protest on Friday aiming to puncture holes in the policies of the CPI-led state government and the BJP-led union government. Titled ‘Samaragni’, the statewide march was inaugurated by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal in the northernmost Kasaragod district and will be led by state Congress …

LDF senses political win in M.K. Stalin’s expression of solidarity with Pinarayi’s protest against Centre’s ‘trespasses’ on federalism in New Delhi
10 months, 2 weeks ago

LDF senses political win in M.K. Stalin’s expression of solidarity with Pinarayi’s protest against Centre’s ‘trespasses’ on federalism in New Delhi

The Hindu  

The ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala has sensed a political victory in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. The LDF has also sought to portray Mr. Stalin’s post in Malayalam on X that the DMK would join Mr. Vijayan, his Cabinet and LDF legislators in the demonstration at Jantar Mantar as an oblique critique of the Congress’s refusal to find …

Kerala | A protest and a predicament
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Kerala | A protest and a predicament

The Hindu  

In India, Centre-State relations have often been characterised by friction. The decision by Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government to take its running battle against the “crippling” policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party -led government at the Centre and its “neglect” towards the State all the way to Jantar Mantar, a place in New Delhi often used for protests, …

Kerala Assembly | Congress-led UDF Opposition walks out in protest against government’s ‘failure’ to mitigate crisis in rubber sector
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Kerala Assembly | Congress-led UDF Opposition walks out in protest against government’s ‘failure’ to mitigate crisis in rubber sector

The Hindu  

The Congress-led United Democratic Front Opposition staged a walkout protest in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on January 31, accusing the ruling Left Democratic Front government of doing little to mitigate the existential crisis plaguing the declining rubber-growing sector in the State. Satheesan signalled that the Opposition would possibly join hands with the ruling front to agitate against the Central government’s …

‘Agents of lawlessness’: Shashi Tharoor slams LDF over assault on Kerala governor's car
1 year ago

‘Agents of lawlessness’: Shashi Tharoor slams LDF over assault on Kerala governor's car

Hindustan Times  

In another possible incident of rift within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance parties, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday slammed the Left Democratic Front -led Kerala government after its student wing allegedly attacked state governor Arif Mohammed Khan's vehicle. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor In a post on X, Tharoor slammed the Vijayan government saying that the police under the …

Governor, CPI(M) battle over petition to declare a state of financial emergency in Kerala
1 year ago

Governor, CPI(M) battle over petition to declare a state of financial emergency in Kerala

The Hindu  

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the Communist Party of India appeared poised to battle each other over a politically contentious petition seeking the Presidential imposition of a financial emergency in the State under Article 360 of the Constitution. Mr. Sasikumar had sought the President’s intervention to “save Kerala from irredeemable financial instability precipitated by the State government’s reckless borrowing, lax …

Adverse Central policies will deprive Kerala of ₹57,400 crore this fiscal, says Balagopal
1 year, 1 month ago

Adverse Central policies will deprive Kerala of ₹57,400 crore this fiscal, says Balagopal

The Hindu  

Balagopal on Friday accused the Centre of launching an intensified offensive against the State on the fiscal front. Adverse Central policies will deprive the State of ₹57,400 crore in Central transfers and loan approvals in the current fiscal, Mr. Balagopal said in a statement on the State’s financial status. The situation is such that the State may have to bank …

J.P. Nadda says Pinarayi Vijayan govt. in Kerala soft-pedals on radicalism
1 year, 1 month ago

J.P. Nadda says Pinarayi Vijayan govt. in Kerala soft-pedals on radicalism

The Hindu  

Bharatiya Janata Party president J.P. Nadda has accused the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government of soft-pedalling on radical activities, paving the way for a breakdown of law and order in Kerala. He was also critical of the Kerala government remaining a “silent spectator” during a rally taken out by the Solidarity Youth Movement in Malappuram that had come under …

Hundreds of Opposition UDF workers besiege Kerala Secretariat spotlighting LDF government’s ‘wrongdoings’
1 year, 2 months ago

Hundreds of Opposition UDF workers besiege Kerala Secretariat spotlighting LDF government’s ‘wrongdoings’

The Hindu  

Hundreds of Congress-led United Democratic Front Opposition workers laid siege to the Kerala government Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on October 18 accusing the Left Democratic Front government of corruption, nepotism and financial maladministration. The government splurged money on a helicopter for Mr. Vijayan and expensive cars and decked-up residences for Ministers when the State was reeling under a cost-of-living crisis, he …

Kerala being ruled by NDA-LDF alliance government, says Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan
1 year, 2 months ago

Kerala being ruled by NDA-LDF alliance government, says Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan

The Hindu  

The Chief Minister and the CPI leadership should explain how JDS, a constituent of NDA, is remaining a part of the LDF and the Cabinet, he said Kerala is being ruled by an NDA-LDF alliance government, Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has said. The Chief Minister and the CPI leadership should explain how JDS, a constituent of NDA, …

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Blames Congress-CPI(M) For Kerala’s 'Industrial Backwardness'
1 year, 5 months ago

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Blames Congress-CPI(M) For Kerala’s 'Industrial Backwardness'

ABP News  

Union Minister Prakash Javdekar blamed Congress-led UDF and CPI-led LDF for the state's industrial backwardness. According to ANI, Javdekar said, "Kerala accounts for a mere six percent of the foreign direct investment of the country. The Union Minister listed companies that rejected an investment offer in the state due to the "hostile investment climate". Prakash Javdekar said that educated and …

BJP Govt in Kerala? Congress, Left Dub PM Modi’s Claim as ‘Far-fetched Dream’
1 year, 9 months ago

BJP Govt in Kerala? Congress, Left Dub PM Modi’s Claim as ‘Far-fetched Dream’

News 18  

Two major political players in Kerala– Congress-led United Democratic Front and CPI-led Left Democratic Front – have dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that the BJP will form the state as a “far-fetched dream”. Addressing BJP workers following the party’s win in the northeast, PM Modi on Thursday said Kerala will also have a government of BJP and its allies …

Govindan-led yatra to lay the ground for LDF’s LS poll campaign
1 year, 10 months ago

Govindan-led yatra to lay the ground for LDF’s LS poll campaign

The Hindu  

Communist Party of India State secretary M.V. Govindan’s Statewide campaign tour, Janakiya Prathirodha Yatra, which will kick off from Kasaragod on Monday, will likely lay the ground for the Left Democratic Front’s campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Not surprisingly, Mr. Govindan, in an interview with a television channel on the eve of the campaign, reiterated the CPI‘s appeal …

Kerala FM Balagopal uses budget presentation to criticise Centre’s alleged infringements on fiscal federalism
1 year, 10 months ago

Kerala FM Balagopal uses budget presentation to criticise Centre’s alleged infringements on fiscal federalism

The Hindu  

Balagopal used his budget presentation in the Kerala Legislative Assembly for 2023-24 fiscal to essay a critique of the Centre’s “conservative financial policies”. Politically loaded speech In a politically loaded budget speech, Mr. Balagopal made a clarion call to other non-Bharatiya Janata Party -ruled States and regional powers to join Kerala in the fight against what he termed attempts to …

Kerala’s demands on infra, fiscal policy ignored in Union Budget, says State government
1 year, 10 months ago

Kerala’s demands on infra, fiscal policy ignored in Union Budget, says State government

The Hindu  

The Union Budget 2023 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday appears to have dashed Kerala’s expectations with respect to specific demands made on the infrastructure and fiscal policy fronts. Balagopal blamed the Budget for neglecting Kerala, particularly the demands made by the State on fiscal policy. That said, Ms. Sitharaman’s announcements with regards to an Agriculture Accelerator Fund …

LDF braces for legal and political fight over Governor’s powers
2 years, 1 month ago

LDF braces for legal and political fight over Governor’s powers

The Hindu  

The Left Democratic Front is reportedly bracing for a potentially consequential political and legal fight over the limits of gubernatorial powers. It appears to view Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s fiat withdrawing the “Governor’s pleasure” for the duration of Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal’s term in office as the most aggressive move so far by the Raj Bhavan in its recurrent …

Kerala’s deepening political faultlines
2 years, 5 months ago

Kerala’s deepening political faultlines

The Hindu  

The attack on the office of Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi by the Students Federation of India, the Communist Party of India 's student wing, has put the parent party in a tight spot and provided ammunition for the Congress leadership to put the ruling front in the dock. Besides launching a broadside against the BJP, Mr. Gandhi also asked the …

Kerala CM sees political plot to discredit govt.
2 years, 6 months ago

Kerala CM sees political plot to discredit govt.

The Hindu  

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has perceived a political plot to discredit the Left Democratic Front government. Mr. Vijayan said here on Tuesday that the UAE gold smuggling case suspect who made "false allegations" seemed to be a proxy for vested interests eager to discredit the administration by falsely implicating those at its helm in a high-profile economic offence. On a …

Kerala Highway Heist: BJP Accuses LDF Govt of Playing 'Politics of Revenge'
3 years, 6 months ago

Kerala Highway Heist: BJP Accuses LDF Govt of Playing 'Politics of Revenge'

News 18  

The BJP in Kerala, facing charges of using hawala money for April 6 Assembly polls, on Sunday accused the CPI-led LDF government of playing 'politics of revenge' against it in connection with a highway heist that took place in Thrissur district. In a press conference held ahead of the state BJP's core committee meeting here, senior party leaders alleged that …

Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala govt's swearing-in today, number of attendees restricted to 500
3 years, 7 months ago

Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala govt's swearing-in today, number of attendees restricted to 500

Hindustan Times  

Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Party government in Kerala will be sworn in on Thursday following coronavirus disease appropriate protocols. The CPI-led LDF government retained power in Kerala by winning 99 seats against 41 seats of Congress-led United Democratic Front in the assembly polls. CPM will hold the speaker post, CPI will be given deputy speaker post and chief whip post …

Kerala’s LDF government formation talks reach a concrete stage
3 years, 7 months ago

Kerala’s LDF government formation talks reach a concrete stage

The Hindu  

The profile of the next Pinarayi Vijayan government appeared to take a more definitive form on Monday afternoon as a fortnight of hectic behind-the-scenes seat-sharing talks seemed to reach finality. One report said the CPI might keep Health Minister K. K. Shylaja and populate the rest of the Cabinet with new faces. One cabinet post each Kerala Congress, Janata Dal, …

Kerala Assembly election: LDF government on its path to a record second term in office as predicted by all opinion surveys
3 years, 8 months ago

Kerala Assembly election: LDF government on its path to a record second term in office as predicted by all opinion surveys

The Hindu  

The ruling Left Democratic Front ’s emphatic victory in the local body elections held in December, under the shadow of an onslaught of corruption charges by the opposition trying to eclipse the government’s record in office, continued to be a morale booster for its candidates in Kerala as the campaign for the Assembly elections 2021 entered its last lap. Unusually, …

PM steps up attack on DMK, says LDF ‘betrayed’ Kerala
3 years, 8 months ago

PM steps up attack on DMK, says LDF ‘betrayed’ Kerala

Hindustan Times  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed rallies in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, all of which go to the polls on April 6, targeting the opposing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the first for misogyny, the Left Democratic Front in Kerala for its involvement in the gold smuggling case, and the Congress in the last for the underperformance of the …

In Kerala, LDF, UDF, BJP Should be Wary of One Thing—the Sceptical Malayali
3 years, 8 months ago

In Kerala, LDF, UDF, BJP Should be Wary of One Thing—the Sceptical Malayali

News 18  

Many media houses along with research agencies have come out with pre-poll surveys where they churn out forecasts on how Kerala will vote on April 6. If they are to be believed, one major factor deciding the poll outcome would be the monthly distribution of free food kits during the last one year by the Left Democratic Front government. True, …

Pre-poll surveys just opinions, LDF workers should not be lax in campaigning: Kerala CM
3 years, 9 months ago

Pre-poll surveys just opinions, LDF workers should not be lax in campaigning: Kerala CM

India Today  

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that pre-poll survey reports predicting continuation of Left Democratic Front rule in state are just opinions and urged the Left party cadres not to be overconfident and never show any laxity in campaign work. Vijayan's reaction came a day after senior Congress leader, Ramesh Chennithala had lashed out at the media houses …

Kerala Assembly Elections | Infighting, factional feud, personality politics plague Congress, CPI(M) and BJP
3 years, 9 months ago

Kerala Assembly Elections | Infighting, factional feud, personality politics plague Congress, CPI(M) and BJP

The Hindu  

Mainstream political parties that felt secure at the start of the election campaign now seemed to be glancing nervously over their shoulders in Kerala. Insurgency is threatening to undermine the electoral prospects of Congress and CPI even as the traditional rivals in Kerala faced an asymmetrical threat from an emergent force, the BJP. CPI workers in the Kuttiyadi constituency in …

Gold Smuggling Case: Central Agencies Being Used to Target LDF Govt in Kerala, Alleges CPI(M)
4 years, 1 month ago

Gold Smuggling Case: Central Agencies Being Used to Target LDF Govt in Kerala, Alleges CPI(M)

News 18  

Accusing the Congress-led UDF and the BJP of targeting the LDF government in Kerala, the CPI on Thursday said the two parties have used the gold-smuggling case to attack Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In the latest edition of its mouthpiece, People's Democracy, the Communist Party of India alleged that the four central agencies — National Investigation Agency, Customs, Enforcement Directorate …

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