Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visited New Delhi for the first time since taking office. He held important talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding Kerala’s financial challenges, pending projects, and future development plans. Satheesan highlighted Kerala’s priorities and the need for support for key projects and long-term rebuilding strategies during the meetings.
The Chief Minister mentioned Kerala’s severe financial crisis but refrained from providing details, stating that a white paper on the state’s finances would be released on June 1. He informed that steps were already underway to prepare the document, which would reveal the actual fiscal situation inherited by the new Congress-led UDF administration. Satheesan emphasized that Kerala would present its major infrastructure and development projects in the upcoming state budget before discussing them formally with the Centre.
Seeking more flexibility in state borrowings from the Union government, Satheesan also requested intervention to ease restrictions impacting Kerala’s financial activities. He expressed the state’s vision for a new Kerala and announced plans for departments to review funds due from the Centre and their utilization status. The Chief Minister mentioned the scrutiny of the previous government’s PM SHRI scheme agreement and the suspension of police personnel linked to an alleged assault on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Yatra.
Satheesan highlighted the upcoming Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) meeting, indicating that decisions would be made based on the report’s findings. He raised concerns about global tensions in West Asia, warning about the potential impact of rising oil prices and Kerala’s reliance on Gulf remittances on the state’s economy and inflation levels. The Chief Minister informed that the current visit was primarily a courtesy call, with future discussions focusing on specific demands and proposals.
