BJP president Nitin Nabin launches the party’s election campaign on Saturday by writing slogans on a wall in Thrissur. | Photo credit: KK NAJEEB
BJP president Nitin Nabin said on Saturday (February 7, 2026) that the Union Budget 2026 has brought significant gains to Kerala, apart from heavy allocations for infrastructure and railway development, with a surge in state tax devolution and central grants.
He was speaking at a discussion on the Union Budget organized by the BJP Intellectual Cell here. Mr. Nabin said that Kerala has received special attention in railway development, including allocation of Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains.
On the development of Kerala, Mr. Nabin said that the Union Government is following the Deendayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya philosophy of serving the last man in the society. Benefits to agricultural sectors like cashew and cocoa would reach Kerala, he said.
He said Kerala’s share of tax devolution has increased by 33%, amounting to around ₹8,973 crore, while central grants have doubled from ₹13,000 crore to ₹26,000 crore.
“The Center is not showing any parsimony when it comes to the development of Kerala,” he alleged.
Highlighting the social security schemes, Mr. Nabin said that 1.55 million beneficiaries in Kerala are covered under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 85 million people have Ayushman Bharat cards, 28 million farmers benefit from PM-Kisan and more than 10,000 state Jan Aushadhi centers are functioning. He also said that the center is boosting coastal shipping and inland waterways, which would provide an economic boost to the coastal state.
Revival of cultural heritage
Mr. Nabin said the Prime Minister’s efforts to revive cultural centers like Kashi and Ujjain had significantly boosted tourism and a similar boost to Kerala’s heritage would boost the local economy. He reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to protect Kerala’s cultural heritage, including the sanctity of Sabarimala.
Expressing concern over radicalism, Mr. Nabin said Kerala was going through a difficult phase which had affected local businesses. A secure environment is essential for the growth of business and the BJP would not compromise national security, he said.
“BJP Govt. in 2026′
Drawing a parallel with the improved business environment in Bihar under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), he said the BJP aims to transform Kerala into an investor-friendly state. “Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, I assure you that the BJP government will be formed in Kerala in 2026,” he said, adding that the party is determined to build a developed Kerala as part of a developed India by 2047.
State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, State General Secretaries AS Suresh and Shobha Surendran along with other party leaders and representatives from various walks of life attended the programme.
Published – 07 Feb 2026 20:53 IST