Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Kerala Health Minister Muraleedharan in a spat of words over AIIMS

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi and Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) got into a verbal spat over the setting up of AIIMS in the state.

While Mr. Gopi dared Mr. Muraleedharan to sit and discuss the matter with him, Gopi brushed off the challenge and stated that he did not see the Union Minister as a politician.

The war of words began after Mr. Gopi was told by a journalist in Kochi that Mr. Muraleedharan had allegedly said that the Union minister was making statements about setting up AIIMS without being aware of all the facts. Irritated by this, Mr. Gopi replied, “Ask him to sit down with me on this matter if he has the courage to do so.”

At the same time, the Union Minister also said that he was not sure whether Mr. Muraleedharan had made any such statement. He also said that he was tired of repeatedly explaining the central and state list in the constitution. “Health is a state subject, but the Union government is providing infrastructural support. We want AIIMS in all states. The state government has to decide the location as per the prescribed parameters,” Mr Gopi said.

“AIIMS for Keralam should not be delayed. But Thrissur is the right place for it,” he said.

He said that if the state government was against AIIMS in Thrissur because there was a BJP MP and minister, then it would be set up only in the district.

Mr. Gopi further said that while Thrissur was accessible from all parts of the state, economically, Alappuzha was a suitable location for AIIMS.

He also said that in February 2026, he told the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to add Alappuzha to the list. “I also told him that a government should come to power and consider Thrissur for setting up AIIMS. Only then a premier medical institute will come to Kerala,” he claimed.

When reporters told Mr Muraleedharan about Mr Gopi’s challenge, the former said he would not accept it as he did not consider him a politician. Taking a dig at Mr. Gopi, the health minister said it was because of the Union minister’s service that his party came third in all seats in Thrissur in the assembly polls.

The minister further said, “Let him take the initiative and set up an AIIMS anywhere in Kerala. If he thinks there is a good location in his constituency, let him say so. I have an open mind on the matter.” The Minister said that there have been proposals to set up AIIMS at Vaikom in Kottayam district, Chalakudy in Thrissur district and also in Kasaragod and Kozhikode districts. “However, we have not yet received a proposal for the fifth place,” he said.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 20:06 IST