BJP Leader Criticizes Kerala CM for Accountability Amid Development Claims

BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacted on Thursday to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's statements, asserting that a person who has held the chief minister's position for a decade should be accountable for their actions. Vijayan accused the central government of deliberately restricting the state's financial autonomy and undermining development projects. Speaking to a news outlet, Chandrasekhar credited the growth in Kerala to Prime Minister Modi's administration and labeled Vijayan's tenure as rife with corruption.

Chandrasekhar cited the theft of gold from the Sabarimala temple as an example, emphasizing that someone who has served as chief minister for ten years has a responsibility to inform the public about their actions during elections. He stated, 'The development seen in Kerala over the past decade is due to the efforts of Prime Minister Modi's government. Pinarayi Vijayan has led a government filled with corruption for the last ten years. Four to four and a half kilograms of gold were stolen from the Sabarimala temple.' He accused Vijayan of inciting the public and spreading confusion, claiming that such tactics would not succeed.

This exchange occurred as Vijayan criticized the central government's management of the state's borrowing limits, stating that it hampers development. He explained that considering loans from the Kerala State Development Commission (KIIDB) as state debt reduces Kerala's borrowing capacity, which contradicts the distinctions made by the RBI in 1999. Despite submitting a memorandum to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Kerala's requests remain unresolved. Vijayan accused the central government of economically weakening states like Kerala, misusing Article 293(3) of the Constitution, and undermining the state's development model. He vowed that Kerala would continue to pursue its development agenda despite these challenges.

Additionally, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed deep concern over the Sabarimala gold controversy on Wednesday, describing the situation as 'far worse than previously known.' He posted on social media, 'As a devotee of Ayyappa, the pain and sorrow I felt before have now deepened.' Chandrasekhar alleged that the theft at Sabarimala involved more than 4.5 kilograms of gold, stating, 'Investigations reveal that under the Devaswom Board appointed by the LDF, four Panchaloha idols were removed from Sabarimala and sold to international criminal gangs.' He further claimed, 'The most shocking aspect is that some parts of the sacred Pathinettam Padi were tampered with and looted, which were replaced during the UDF regime in 2015.'