BJP Keralam State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on June 19, alleged that the first UDF (Congress-led United Democratic Front) budget is nothing but a flood of rosy promises on top of pathetic debts. V.D. Satheeshan, Chief Minister and also the Minister for Finance, presented his maiden budget on the floor of the House on June 19. Even though the budget is promise-rich, it does not clearly say what the sources of revenue are for materialising them. At the moment, Keralam’s debt is Rs 5.07 lakh crore.
The BJP president alleged that the Congress party’s five ‘Indira Guarantee’ promises have not been mentioned in the first budget. A mere Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the health insurance scheme which promises Rs 25 lakh Oommen Chandy Health Insurance to all families. That means every family, out of a total of 90 lakh families, would get Rs 11.00!!! The government has ridiculed the entire state through this budget.
#MissionSamudra, a project aimed at transforming #Keralam into a major force on the global maritime map within five years, by harnessing its 600-km coastline, two international ports, a container transshipment terminal, 17 non-major ports and vast inland water resources.
An… pic.twitter.com/at80953Uwe— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) June 19, 2026
The BJP leader also alleged that the budget keeps mum about the promise that the welfare pension would be increased to Rs 3,000. It also does not say anything about the Rs 5 lakh loan scheme for youths. He alleged that the budget would pave the way for the privatisation of public sector undertakings and government assets.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the progress of every budget statement would be scrutinised and that he would seek clarifications from the government. What Keralam wants is financial discipline, corruption-free administration and real development.
A Budget of grand promises built on a mountain of debt 📉
The @VDSatheesan government's Budget is full of big announcements but offers no credible roadmap on how they will be funded, even as Keralam is already drowning in a staggering public debt of Rs 5.07 lakh crore.
This is… pic.twitter.com/xLH7b2cGSG
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) June 19, 2026
He charged that the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) came to power ten years ago, raising the slogan that “LDF will rule, everything will be okay”. But they demolished the state’s entire economy. Now, Congress and CPM are both sides of the same coin. They are not two; they are one. Now, Kerala is in need of the ‘Viksit Kerala’ policy which BJP/NDA flaunts.
In his sharp attack on former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s decade-long tenure, and criticising the Congress government’s handling of the state’s finances in a post on X, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “Pinarayi Vijayan’s 10-year term as CM of Kerala is the worst in the history of Kerala. It was a decade that has devastated the state like no other period since Kerala state was founded 70 years ago. CPM’s ideology and economic vision is outdated and irrelevant/incompetent for today’s time. I have said this for over a year and I have been proved right,” Chandrasekhar said.
There are two harsh but stark truths that have revealed themselves in last month in Keralam.
1. @pinarayivijayan 's 10 year term as CM of Keralam is worst in history of Keralam. It was a decade that has devastated the state like no other period since Keralam state was founded…
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) June 19, 2026
Referring to the Congress government’s election promises, he said, “Rahul’s Congress party made a promise of 5 ‘Indira’ guarantees. They were the opposition party and knew of the state’s precarious financial situation. In their first budget, 3 out of 5 remain unfulfilled (after saying they will do it on day 1) and the 4th, of 25 Lakh health insurance, has been provided only 10cr – ie 11Rs/year per family for premium. Mocking poor uninsured Malayalees it seems.”
“There are many promises that are not backed by financial reality.
Of the five guarantees, three remain unfulfilled, one is like mocking the people of Kerala.”
– BJP MLA and Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Budget presented by INC Govt pic.twitter.com/bbRTAVZa4g
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) June 19, 2026
The BJP leader further said, “I have only one advise for CM V D Satheesan. If he is serious about helping our people and creating development and jobs by making our state an investment destination, he has to rebuild public finances. For that he should partner with Narendra Modi govt and implement schemes like PM-Awas for homeless, PM-Ayush for health insurance. That way state will save money and still help people.”
The BJP leader promised that his party would press the government to provide replies to every statement in the budget. That is the assurance BJP gives to the people of Keralam.
Now Cong has something to agree with what BJP has been saying and I have personally over the last 1 year .
I agree with CM @vdsatheesan abt CPM , but then a question arises – Why is the Cong in INDI alliance with a corrupt, inept, jargon party like the CPM?
CPM is a jargon… https://t.co/EdnfGQnKAs pic.twitter.com/6wWZ3CyQbH
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) June 20, 2026
The budget has invited sharp criticism from society. Another promise of the V.D. Satheeshan Government, that college girl students would be given a stipend of Rs 1,000 per month, has not found any place in the budget. It was a promise in the UDF election manifesto. ASHA workers and Anganwadi teachers are not getting any wage hike. Infrastructure development is totally ignored. The Government Employees’ Wage Reforms Commission is not mentioned at all.
