Amid sharp criticism from the Kerala government that the Union Budget has completely neglected the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday shifted the blame to the Left government, alleging that it had failed to implement several projects and schemes sanctioned by the Centre.
Speaking to the media here, BJP Kerala state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Union Budget includes several schemes for youth and development that would benefit Kerala as well.
He asserted that the Modi government had transformed India from a weak economy into the world’s fourth-largest economy and that the Budget reflects clear medium- and long-term strategies.
Chandrasekhar questioned why the Kerala government had failed to implement schemes announced for the state in the last 11 Union Budgets.
“I have only one question for the Left government, which is spreading the narrative that Kerala has received nothing in the Union Budget. The Central government has announced several schemes for Kerala over the last 11 budgets. Why has the state government failed to implement many of them?” he asked.
Citing specific examples, the BJP leader said the PM Ayushman scheme, which benefits people above 70 years of age, has not been implemented by the Left government in Kerala.
He also pointed out that ₹6,000 crore was allocated under the Jal Jeevan Mission to benefit 32 lakh families in the state, but claimed that the scheme had not reached a single household.
On the absence of an announcement for setting up AIIMS in Kerala in the current Budget, Chandrasekhar said the Centre could not proceed as the state government had failed to acquire the required land.
He recalled that the establishment of AIIMS in Kerala was announced in 2017, but the land acquisition process has not been completed so far.
He further asserted that implementation of new Central projects in Kerala would be possible only if a BJP-led NDA government comes to power in the state. “Development will happen only when a double-engine government comes to power in Kerala,” he said.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, strongly criticised the Union Budget, alleging that it raised doubts about whether Kerala was being treated as part of the country.
“BJP leaders, including Union Ministers from Kerala, spoke repeatedly about AIIMS. We expected at least that. There is no AIIMS and no high-speed rail line for Kerala,” Satheesan said.
Referring to assurances made during the local body election campaign, Satheesan said BJP leaders, including the Prime Minister, had promised to transform Kerala into a developed state. “If this is how Kerala is being developed, it is a warning,” he added.