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Kochi, Oct 30 (IANS) The Congress on Thursday accused the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government in Kerala of using welfare schemes as a “political tool” ahead of the local body elections, and termed the latest announcements as a desperate attempt to hide administrative failures.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the government was trying to deceive voters by making last-minute concessions.
“We welcome any benefit for the poor and common people. But before coming to power, the LDF had promised to increase the social security pension to Rs 2,500. Nothing was done for four and a half years. Now, just before the elections, they have increased it by Rs 400 to Rs 2,000,” he said.
Satheesan criticized the state for making fun of the ASHA workers’ agitation, saying the government had only offered a token increase of Rs 33.
“The honorarium should be increased substantially. Even the High Court has given this direction,” he said.
He said welfare fund dues have risen to unprecedented levels, with the government owing employees, teachers and pensioners nearly Rs 1 lakh crore.
“The claim that the Nayanar government started the pension scheme is a blatant lie,” Satheesan said.
He accused the government of misleading the people for four-and-a-half years and dismissed the CPI-M’s claim of 18 months of arrears during the Oommen Chandy era as a “fabrication”.
The opposition leader challenged both the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister to prove the allegations.
Satheesan said the UDF will return to power in 2026 with more than 100 seats.
“It is the Congress that will lead that comeback. The confusion in the Congress is the CPI-M’s story; the real chaos is within the LDF,” he said.
AICC general secretary KC Venugopal also reiterated the criticism and compared Vijayan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Venugopal said, “Vijayan is doing exactly what PM Modi does – fooling people by making promises that can never be fulfilled. He has ruled Kerala since 2016 and is close to a decade in power without fulfilling the commitments made in 2016 or 2021. People will see through these moves and react appropriately.”
–IANS
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