Mock voting is underway at GVHSS in Kannur ahead of assembly elections. File | Photo credit: Mohan SK
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance on Thursday (April 2, 2026) separately offered to improve welfare systems for the weaker sections and introduce projects aimed at women to gain voter confidence in their election manifestos.
The two warring fronts released their manifestos for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections on the same day.
The UDF manifesto was dominated by five guarantees and five dream projects with special emphasis on women. The queue’s guarantees include free bus travel for women in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses, monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 each for female college students, increase in social pension to ₹3,000 per month, health insurance cover of ₹25 per household and interest-free loans of up to ₹5,000 for youths to set up their own youth businesses.
The Congress-led front hopes to win the support of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), who have long been demanding a wage revision, by promising to increase their daily wages to ₹700 and revise the salary of anganwadi workers and those involved in preparing mid-day meals in schools.
The pinnacle of the dream project was ‘Mission Samudra’, which envisioned integrating the capabilities offered by the state’s 600 km coastline, 44 rivers, 34 lakes, four international airports and long range areas to elevate Kerala’s position in the global maritime sector. In the manifesto, the establishment of a modern training facility for pilots and flight personnel, the development of the second phase of the Cochin International Airport Limited runway and the overall development of the Kannur airport found a place.
The party reiterated its promise to enact legislation to protect the religious rights of Sabarimala devotees, an offer it made during protests following the Supreme Court’s order allowing women to enter the temple.
The LDF, on its part, vowed to continue the Nava Kerala campaign, which included 950 motions, if voted back to power.
The second phase of Life Mission 2.0, a housing project for the poor to make Kerala a homeless state, a campaign to eradicate absolute poverty, an increase in social pension from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000, turning the state into a knowledge society in five years, assured job opportunities for educated youth through campus placements and interest-free loans for campus entrepreneurs ‘Ba found place in the document.
The front outlined plans to identify and lift up to 5 million very poor families out of poverty. The LDF offered to create employment opportunities for women and provide jobs to 2 million housewives.
LDF governments have promised to raise higher education to global standards, address learning gaps in public education and expand technical education initiatives.
While the UDF promised health insurance coverage of ₹25 per household under a scheme named after former chief minister Oommen Chandy, the LDF offered to introduce a universal health insurance scheme and unlimited medical benefits. At present, 42 thousand beneficiaries are receiving medical benefits up to ₹ 5 lakh per year under Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi.
Metro Rail found a mention in the manifestos of both the fronts. While the UDF has offered to develop metro/light metro in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, the LDF has also unveiled its plans to develop metro projects for the two cities. The LDF has also offered to consider the possibility of developing a water metro in Alappuzha, Kollam and Kodungallur.
Published – 03 Apr 2026 10:18 IST
