Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Pinarayi claiming credit for Union govt. projects, says Amit Shah

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched “a name change start-up,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Sunday, accusing the former of claiming credit for several Centrally funded projects.

Addressing an election rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Kunnathunad Assembly constituency, the Union Minister alleged that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the State was taking credit for the Union government’s schemes to provide free ration and housing for the poor and the construction of the National Highway 66.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has facilitated the launch of lakhs of start-ups in the country. One of them has been launched by Mr. Vijayan too. That’s a name change start-up. Modi government announces policies and projects and allots funds. Mr. Vijayan keeps taking credit for them,” Mr. Shah said.

Citing the improvement in the NDA’s vote share in the State from 14% in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 to 20% in 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said it was time for an NDA government in Kerala. “The upcoming Kerala Assembly election is not merely for changing the government, but for securing the State’s future,” he said. He wished Christian community on Easter and urged them to support the NDA to form government in Kerala.

‘Habitual liar’

Mr. Shah also came down heavily on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a habitual liar. He said Mr. Gandhi falsely claimed that fuel prices have shot up in the country, while the prices actually skyrocketed in Pakistan. “There has not been any hike in fuel prices nor any rationing in the country. It is because of the effective management practices followed by Prime Minister Modi,” Mr. Shah said.

AIIMS in two years

Listing the NDA’s poll promises for the State, the Union Minister said the first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the State will be functional in two years if the BJP-led alliance is elected to power. He said the probe into the Sabarimala gold scandal will be handed over to the CBI and those behind it will be jailed within seven days.

He said the NDA government will make Thiruvananthapuram an IT innovation hub and Kollam a hub of blue economy. Kozhikode will be made a centre of health care and Thrissur of cultural tourism. Kannur will be transformed into a defence innovation hub, he said.