Upset over 'neglect' in pre-election budget: LDF terms Union Budget 'anti-Kerala'

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala on Sunday termed the Budget as 'anti-Kerala' after the state's expectations of key sops in the Union Budget ahead of the Assembly polls went in vain.

No major announcements for the state were made by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget presented on Sunday.

The expectations for a high speed rail project, an unit of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, allocations for the Sabari Rail project and more importantly fiscal support programmes for the state were missing in the Union Budget.

A rare earth corridor and turtle trail project were among the few Kerala specific announcements in the budget, while announcements like development of tier two and three cities, viability gap funding for sea plane, coconut and seafood promotion schemes and setting up of ayurveda institutes could also become beneficial for the state.

With BJP winning the Thiruvananthapuram corporation for the first time, there were expectations that the centre would announce major projects for the state capital.

Even as seven high speed rail corridors were announced in the budget, Kerala did not get one. This could further aggravate the ongoing tussle between Kerala government and 'Metro man' E Sreedharan.

While Sreedharan recently said that a high-speed rail project for Kerala was under consideration of the centre, the state government mooted a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) for the state.

Sreedharan termed the RRTS project as a 'foolish idea', which triggered strong criticism from the CPM.

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal said that despite the state's repeated requests the centre had not even increased allocations for vital sectors like health and agriculture.

He also said that since the Vizhinjam port became operational, the centre should have announced an industrial corridor to tap the opportunities. The budget did not have any announcements that boost the country's economy.

He also said that only a marginal increase was made in the finance commission grants to the state - from 1.9 percent to 2.38 percent. The state had demanded 2.7 percent.

Kerala Industries minister P Rajeev said that Kerala has been neglected in the Union Budget as no projects like the high speed rail corridor and AIIMS were announced. There were also no measures to address Kerala's fiscal crisis.

He also said that the rare earths coordinator announced in the budget could be an attempt to take the mineral resources of the state to other states. Moreover the Kerala budget had already announced a rare earth corridor, he said.