CPI M 24th Congress Condemns Centre’s Fiscal Squeeze on Kerala, Rallies Support for LDF

Madurai:The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), meeting in Madurai, has sharply criticised the BJP -led Union government for what it described as a deliberate fiscal blockade against the LDF government in Kerala. The CPI M accused the Centre of using financial pressure and constitutional tools—such as the Governor’s office and withholding legislative assent—to destabilise the state government, with support from the Congress opposition in Kerala.

The resolution passed by the party reaffirmed Kerala’s distinctive development model, which combines social justice, secularism, and economic redistribution. It credited successive Left governments with land reforms, strong labour protections, universal healthcare, and education, noting that Kerala is on track to eliminate absolute poverty by 2025–26. Facing the challenge of educated unemployment, the LDF government is now working to transform Kerala into a knowledge -based economy, focusing on investment in technology- driven industries, infrastructure development, and skill-building campaigns. However, the CPI(M) emphasised that this shift would not come at the cost of Kerala’s welfare commitments, public sector institutions, or democratic rights.

The party accused the Centre of slashing Kerala’s tax devolution from 3.9 per cent to 1.9 per cent and unfairly penalising the state by treating borrowings by its infrastructure agency, KIIFB, as state debt. As a result, the state has lost over 10,000 crore in market loans in three years. Although Kerala accounts for 2.8 per cent of India’s population, it received just 35,000 crore in 2024–25 out of 25 lakh crore in central transfers—only half of what it was due, the party claimed. Calling the Centre’s actions discriminatory and politically motivated, the CPI M urged its members and all democratic forces to expose what it called baseless propaganda and rally in defence of Kerala’s development achievements and the LDF government.