Kannur: A monthly welfare pension of Rs 3,000 for the elderly poor, the state’s first AIIMS, two free LPG cylinders a year, and protection for places of worship such as Sabarimala and Guruvayoor—BJP’s election manifesto in poll-bound Kerala addresses both faith and development.
The manifesto, in line with the party’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ campaign, was released by BJP president Nitin Nabin at a function in Thiruvananthapuram attended by state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and alliance partners Sabu Jacob (Twenty20) and Thushar Vellappally (BDJS).
The party also launched an anthem, ‘Ithanu Viksita Keralam’ (this is developed Kerala), with an AI-generated video featuring Narendra Modi alongside visuals of infrastructure and development projects.
Among the key promises is a welfare pension of Rs 3,000 for poor women, widows and the elderly above 70 years. The party also proposed a ‘Bhakshya Arogya Suraksha Card’ for women from poor households, with a monthly recharge of Rs 2,500 for groceries and medicines. It also promised two free LPG cylinders every year, to be delivered during Onam and Christmas.
“I always say, the LDF and UDF have match-fixing games for Kerala. It has caused Kerala’s underdevelopment. They have fixed to share power among themselves and help their families. They believe if there is development, the people of Kerala will ask for their rights,” Nabin said.
Big promises
Seeking to expand its footprint in the state, the BJP said it would ensure a corruption-free administration using technology and AI-driven systems, with a focus on a “citizen first” approach. The party also promised 20,000 litres of water free of cost every month to every household, and employment-linked incentives, including a soft loan of Rs 1 lakh.
The BJP manifesto places emphasis on temple management, promising a special commission to audit 30 years of temple administration and inspect temple assets. “A time-bound CBI inquiry will be conducted into the Sabarimala gold theft to ensure a thorough investigation and punishment for culprits,” Nabin said, adding that devotee participation would be ensured in temple committees.
The BJP also promised a high-speed train connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, completion of all phases of the Kochi Metro, and new metro services in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
Earlier this year, the LDF government announced a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, while metro systems in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode have also been proposed but work is yet to begin.
The BJP reiterated its promise to establish the state’s first AIIMS, a long-pending demand. The proposal assumes significance as the party’s lone MP Suresh Gopi had repeatedly promised it before and after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, but the Centre is yet to announce it.
The manifesto also promises measures to ensure the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam without violating Tamil Nadu’s water rights.
It further said Vizhinjam will be developed into a major industrial hub, backwater tourism will be expanded, Thiruvananthapuram will be transformed into an IT and innovation capital, Kochi into a shipbuilding hub, and Kozhikode into a healthcare innovation centre.
Speaking at the event, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the BJP’s vision rests on five pillars: Investment and job creation, quality of life and affordable living, infrastructure, human safety and environmental resilience, and a financially self-sufficient state.
“Everybody should read this manifesto. It’s not just to develop the state, but to transform it,” he said, adding that the BJP would focus on creating a job and investment revolution.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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