Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday led a day-long Satyagraha protest in Thiruvananthapuram, accusing the Union government of financially strangling the state. Held at Palayam Martyrs’ Square, the protest comes amid rising political tensions ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections and was joined by Cabinet ministers and ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) legislators.

Addressing the gathering, Vijayan asserted that allocations from the Finance Commission are not acts of charity but constitutionally guaranteed rights of states. He said Kerala was only demanding its rightful share and warned that the Centre’s policies were affecting all sections of society, not just the state government or the Left Front.

The Chief Minister alleged that the Centre was executing a deliberate and systematic plan to weaken Kerala through financial constraints. Rejecting allegations of fiscal extravagance, he cited the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report as evidence that the state’s financial management was sound. Vijayan said propaganda aimed at discrediting Kerala had failed to weaken its resolve.

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In a sharp political attack, Vijayan accused the Congress and its UDF allies of indirectly supporting the Centre’s actions. He claimed that the Congress was complicit in policies harming Kerala and alleged that the party was aligning itself with RSS ideology during times of political crisis, betraying its secular credentials.

The CM urged the Congress to abandon what he described as a destructive and opportunistic approach, warning against compromising with communal forces for electoral gains or political positions. He alleged that attempts were being made to prevent a united opposition voice against the Centre, which he said ultimately protected communal interests.

While the protest saw the participation of most LDF leaders and ministers, the absence of Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani and RJD leader M V Shreyams Kumar at the inaugural event sparked political speculation. Their absence has triggered debate within political circles, adding another layer of intrigue to the evolving pre-election landscape in Kerala.

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