Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) General Secretary MA Baby said the Union Budget reveals the Modi government’s blind commitment to a few big corporations at the expense of working and working people as well as larger national interests. He said transfers to states have fallen by crores crores in a blatant subversion of fiscal federalism even as they are financially squeezed through GST and shifting the burden of expenditure to central schemes.
“The figures reveal a massive drop in income that is being offset by across-the-board spending cuts, including in key sectors such as rural development, education, health and welfare. There is a blatant attack on workers and peasants, with further cuts in fertilizer, food and oil subsidies being proposed. There is no longer any pretense that the agricultural support sector is facing collapse.”
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan on Sunday called the Union Budget a “declaration of war” on Kerala, alleging that it was a deliberate political vendetta and continued neglect of the state.
Addressing a press conference in Kasaragod, he said that Kerala has been completely excluded from major national initiatives. He said that announcing seven high-speed rail corridors across the country while shutting down Kerala is unacceptable.
Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary Binoy Viswam said the wishes of states where the BJP has interests have been met, while places like Kerala have been completely ignored.
Mr. Viswam alleged that the BJP had tried to raise hopes about proposals for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and a high-speed rail project ahead of the budget, while projecting the ideas of people like “Metroman” E. Sreedharan. “The state doesn’t have high-speed rail. But we have a sea turtle conservation project. It’s a joke,” Mr. Viswam said.
Accusing the BJP of misleading the people of Kerala with empty promises, Congress working committee member Ramesh Chennithala said the budget has turned out to be a “total disappointment”.
“The prime minister came to Thiruvananthapuram and spoke eloquently about developed India. The question that arises after the budget is whether Kerala will be included in Modi’s developed India,” he said.
Published – 01 Feb 2026 20:38 IST
