The Kerala Legislative Assembly, on Wednesday, adopted a significant resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan under Rule 118. This resolution formally expressed deep concern and protest over what the state government has described as a persistent pattern of neglect and discriminatory treatment by the Central government across a spectrum of critical issues.
A Protest in the Absence of Opposition
The resolution was passed in a notable setting—the absence of the opposition, which had chosen to boycott the day's proceedings. This move underscored the political tensions surrounding the debate on federal relations and resource allocation.
Chief Minister's Stance on Federalism
While moving the resolution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan articulated a foundational principle. He asserted that India's capacity to stand with dignity on the global stage is intrinsically linked to the security, development, and prosperity of all its constituent states. He warned that weakening individual states would inevitably weaken the nation as a whole. The Chief Minister emphasized that the Indian Constitution itself upholds the federal principle through its established three-tier system of governance.
Core Grievances Outlined in the Resolution
The resolution presented a detailed catalogue of grievances, arguing that many legitimate demands raised by Kerala over several years have not received due consideration from the Union government. This, it stated, has caused widespread disappointment among the people of Kerala and runs counter to democratic federal values, raising serious concerns about balanced national development.
Key Areas of Alleged Neglect
Healthcare Infrastructure: A primary issue highlighted was the long-standing demand for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kerala. The resolution noted that while the state government had identified land and completed most land acquisition procedures, the Centre has not taken any follow-up action, leaving the project in limbo.
Rural Employment Scheme: The resolution raised serious concerns regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It pointed out that despite Kerala being a leading state in implementing the scheme, the conversion of the programme into a variant reduced central assistance from 100% to 60%. This has reportedly resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 3,800 crore to the state. Furthermore, the allocation for the scheme in the 2026-27 Union Budget was slashed from Rs 88,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore—a national cut of Rs 58,000 crore—which would adversely impact Kerala.
Railway Development: On railway infrastructure, the resolution lamented that Kerala's rail network remains slow despite heavy passenger usage. It highlighted that covering the 573-kilometer stretch between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod takes nearly 13 hours. Other grievances included the denial of approval for a proposed coach factory, lack of action on surveys for additional railway lines, and the absence of any specific allocation in the Union Budget for these projects.
Port Project and Airport Status: The Vizhinjam international seaport project was cited as another area of concern. The resolution stated that despite repeated requests, the Union government sanctioned only a repayable viability gap funding (VGF) facility, whereas VGF was granted as a non-repayable grant to similar projects in other states—a move labelled as discriminatory. The assembly also noted that the demand to grant "point of call" status for foreign airlines at Kannur airport has not been considered, despite multiple representations.
Disaster Management and Fiscal Constraints
On disaster management, the resolution criticised the Centre's response to the Mundakkai-Chooralmala disaster, stating that adequate compensation was not provided. It also pointed out that amendments to central law removed provisions allowing for loan write-offs for disaster victims.
Fiscal Matters: The resolution detailed several fiscal constraints imposed on the state. It stated that Kerala's borrowing limit was cut by Rs 5,944 crore in the last quarter of 2026-27, with an additional Rs 3,323 crore deducted under the Guarantee Sinking Fund. Such late-year reductions were said to severely affect welfare programmes and infrastructure projects. The decision of the 16th Finance Commission to discontinue revenue deficit grants was also criticised.
Further fiscal grievances included the withholding of Rs 965.16 crore due to Kerala under Integrated GST (IGST), the non-compensation for revenue losses from GST rate reductions, and the requirement for Kerala to bear 25% of land acquisition costs for national highway projects—a condition allegedly not imposed on other states. The Centre's refusal to exclude this expenditure from the state's borrowing limit was also flagged as a point of contention.
Conclusion: A Call for Balanced Development
In its concluding remarks, the resolution emphatically stated that overall national growth is only possible when all regions develop in a balanced manner. It argued that recent Union Budgets have increasingly undermined this constitutional principle. The adoption of this resolution marks a formal, legislative protest from Kerala, highlighting the ongoing tensions in Centre-state relations and the state's demand for equitable treatment and development support.
