Politics has sidelined development in Kerala: Rajeev Chandrasekhar

BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has accused the Congress and the CPM of pursuing “anti-development” and “anti-people” politics, claiming both parties are actively blocking Kerala from receiving the benefits of major central government initiatives.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Chandrasekhar referenced statements by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, alleging a joint effort by Congress and the CPM to deprive Kerala residents of central government initiatives.

Backing comments made by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in March this year, Chandrasekhar stated that the state government’s refusal to acquire land has severely delayed a central proposal to cut travel times between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram down to four hours.

The BJP leader alleged that local political interests have compromised state welfare, resulting in the intentional obstruction or delay of flagship central schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Ayushman Bharat, and the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) initiative.

Challenging the state government’s position, Chandrasekhar alleged that developmental goals were sidelined for political gains.

Asserting the need for a transformation in the current political landscape, Chandrasekhar stated that Kerala requires substantive development rather than engineered controversies. He further noted that the state’s objective should be a “Viksit Keralam”, driven by a politics of performance.