Senior Congress leader Cherian Philip criticized the Kerala government’s Nava Kerala Survey, costing Rs 20 crore, as a tool for the CPI(M)’s election campaign. He alleged that the survey, carried out by an 85,000-strong volunteer force selected through local CPI(M) units, is essentially a CPI(M) outreach program disguised as a government initiative. The distribution of pamphlets boasting government achievements is part of this effort.
Philip claimed that a truly unbiased survey would reveal Kerala’s developmental failures. He accused the government of fabricating reports to make grand claims like “extreme poverty-free Kerala” and “complete digital literacy.” Additionally, he pointed out the abandonment of key missions under the Nava Kerala Karma Padhathi by the current Pinarayi Vijayan government.
The Congress leader highlighted issues in various sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, IT, and tourism, alleging a decline or collapse in these areas. He criticized the lack of major development projects despite Kerala’s substantial public debt of Rs 5 lakh crore. Philip also raised concerns about the inefficiency of government initiatives like K-Rail and K-FON, labeling them as ineffective.
