LDF, the ruling alliance in Kerala, has officially unveiled its election manifesto, laying out a series of undertakings centered around poverty eradication and significant increases to welfare pensions. The document, presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, outlines a 60-point development program, reportedly encompassing 950 specific proposals, aiming to usher in a "New Kerala."
A central plank of the manifesto is the pledge to lift 5 lakh families out of extreme poverty and achieve the complete eradication of absolute poverty within the state. This is coupled with a commitment to hike social security and welfare pensions to ₹3,000. Currently, the state provides benefits to 42 lakh beneficiaries under schemes like the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi, with annual treatment benefits up to ₹5 lakh. The manifesto also makes provisions for special treatment for bed-ridden patients and dedicated schemes for senior citizens.
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Infrastructure and Investment on the Horizon
The manifesto details a substantial commitment to infrastructure development, proposing an investment of ₹2 lakh crore over the next five years. This includes the development of four industrial corridors, the completion of the second phase of the Vizhinjam port, and the advancement of metro rail projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, alongside a high-speed rail corridor. Revitalizing the KSRTC and ensuring a power-cut-free Kerala are also listed objectives.
Educational and Health Sector Overhauls
In the education sector, the LDF promises to elevate higher education to global standards, address existing learning gaps in public education, and expand technical education initiatives. Guaranteed employment for graduates through enhanced campus recruitment and the establishment of a dedicated skills university are also highlighted. The health sector will see the implementation of a universal health coverage scheme, offering limitless treatment benefits.
Agricultural and Women-Centric Initiatives
The manifesto addresses the agricultural sector by promising to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy to ₹35, coconut to ₹45, and rubber to ₹300. For women, the proposals include expanding Kudumbashree bank linkages to ₹20,000 crore and generating local employment opportunities through initiatives like ‘Work Near Home’.
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Political Context
The manifesto's release places the LDF in direct competition with the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), which has also put forth its manifestos, including a matching pledge to increase welfare pensions to ₹3,000. The LDF, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has governed Kerala for approximately a decade and seeks to retain control of the 140-member assembly. Chief Minister Vijayan framed the past decade not merely as a period of governance but as one that "rebuilt societal confidence."
