V.D. Satheesan questions Pinarayi’s ‘poll eve sops’, says LDF in Kerala failed to keep 2021 promises

Kerala’s Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan questioned the timing of a slew of welfare measures announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday (October 30, 2025) and said they were aimed at “covering up the embarrassment” caused by the controversy over enrolling in the PM SHRI scheme.

The Congress leader asked why it took four-and-a-half years for the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to increase social security pension to ₹2,000 per month even though it had stated in its 2021 poll manifesto that this amount would be increased to ₹2,500 once it comes to power.

“Whatever the government announces for the poor and common people, we fully welcome it. But the truth is that the LDF has announced an increase of only ₹400 in pensions, although five years ago it had promised to increase the pension from ₹1,600 to ₹2,500. The announcement was made even as the local body elections are due to be announced in a week. After the elections, it will be the turn of the Assembly polls. The government has not implemented this hike He could not keep his promise for 4.5 years,” said Mr. Satheesan.

He said the government should pay compensation of ₹52,000 per beneficiary for the ₹900 raise it had promised when it came to power.

‘ASHA’s wage increase is insufficient’

Mr Satheesan also criticized what he called an “inadequate increase” in wages for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). “ASHA workers were on strike demanding salary hike and the government mocked them and suppressed their agitation. They are demanding at least ₹700 per day. Currently, they are getting only ₹233. The ₹1,000 hike announced for ASHAs only amounts to ₹33 per day. This needs to be increased,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan reiterated the Opposition’s charge that the State was going through an unprecedented financial crisis. “Dues in Kshemanidhi schemes amount to ₹2,500 crore. The government has to pay ₹1,800 crore due to hospitals due to the Karunya scheme,” Mr. Satheesan said.

He also said that 6 installments of severance pay for state employees is also pending.

Mr Satheesan said the Opposition would announce welfare measures in due course and implement them “through its first Budget after coming to power after the Assembly elections”.

He reiterated that the government’s decision to appoint a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the project after the PM signed off on the SHRI project was aimed at “spying” on the CPI, which had shown strong objection to the government’s move.

“The Prime Minister should reveal who blackmailed him to enroll in the PM SHRI project, keeping it a secret from his own cabinet,” Mr. Satheesan said.