In a candid pre-election interview from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan mounted a fierce defense of his LDF government’s transformative 10 years, positioning it as the launchpad for another victory on April 9. Dismissing critics, he wove a narrative of relentless infrastructure pushes, social sector rebirths, and forward-looking strategies.
The 2016 mandate came amid widespread unrest, but LDF flipped the script by making infrastructure the heartbeat of development. Vijayan detailed how highways, bridges, and public works became symbols of change.
Turning the guns on UDF, he alleged blatant pacts with communal elements. ‘UDF allied with BJP in local elections and traded posts for gains. They’re bargaining with fringe groups for votes—we refuse such shortcuts,’ Vijayan charged, warning that CPI(M) turncoats are ‘betrayers’ shunned by the masses.
Sabarimala barely dented local polls, he observed, with Pandalam delivering upbeat outcomes as the government addressed local aspirations. Each area’s governance challenges and voting triggers vary, he explained.
Vijayan spotlighted health overhauls from disarray to efficiency. Education’s turnaround is dramatic: near-defunct schools and a dropout crisis were tackled via massive Rs 5,000 crore funding, smart classrooms, labs, and training, validated by NITI Aayog.
KIIFB’s revival ballooned investments from Rs 50,000 crore to over Rs 1.10 lakh crore, fueling Hill and Coastal Highways (Rs 10,000 crore) and 200+ bridges against an initial 100 target. Prime Minister-opened highway stretches signal Kerala’s ascent.
‘Vision 2031’ sets ambitious five-year blueprints per sector. Global praise for COVID handling, enviable infant mortality, top-tier colleges (18 in top 100 nationally), 13 excellence hubs, and skill initiatives target youth empowerment and FDI.
Politically, BJP faces a shutout: ‘Not a single seat,’ Vijayan forecasted. ‘New Kerala 2031’ is no fantasy—it’s built on solid governance gains, ready for realization.