Railway Board Decision Threatens Palakkad Earnings, Sparks Political Hunger Strike

A hunger strike launched on August 26 has turned the traditional Thiruvonam celebration into a platform for political dissent in Kerala. Congress MPs, backed by the United Democratic Front, are abstaining from the customary 26‑dish feast to demonstrate opposition to the Railway Board’s plan to shift several stations, including Mangaluru Central, from the Palakkad Division to the South Western Railway’s Mysore Division. The re‑organisation promises an extra ₹50‑60 crore in annual revenue for Mysore, while Palakkad could see a loss of approximately ₹1,100 crore, a devastating blow to a division that derives about 90 percent of its income from freight traffic. Officials argue that total railway earnings will remain unchanged, merely moving from one division to another, yet the UDF stresses that Kerala will suffer a strategic setback in controlling a vital rail network. The protest also carries an electoral undertone, with the opposition accusing the BJP‑led central government of timing the decision to sway Karnataka’s upcoming elections. Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a rethink and highlighting the lack of state consultation before such a consequential move.