T’puram: Union minister of state (MoS) and BJP’s in-charge for Kerala assembly elections Shobha Karandlaje said that the state got, which has been demanding an AIIMS, did not utilize the medical colleges sanctioned in Wayanad and Kasaragod, nor the ESI Medical College in Kollam. Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Karandlaje said that the state govt is not cooperating with any central schemes. “The chief minister should focus on development instead of playing politics,” she said. Karandlaje added, “Both fronts in Kerala are spreading false propaganda about the Union Budget. Suitable projects for the state will be decided in the coming days. These decisions are made after consultations with MPs from various parties involved in the standing committees of different departments in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Detailed information on what Kerala will receive and which projects will be included will be available only when the Budget is presented in Parliament at the end of March.” The BJP leader said that no state is specifically mentioned in the Budget. Projects are first allocated to those who provide land. “In the 2025-26 budget, Kerala was given Rs 27,382 crore. This year, it increased to Rs 36,355 crore. The central loan amount is Rs 21,077 crore, 23% more than the previous year. Yet Kerala claims that the Centre is being unfair and neglectful,” she said. She added that a major scheme and financial assistance for cultivating high-density, high-yielding coconut trees was announced in the Union Budget. “The plan is to replace non-productive coconut trees with more productive ones. There is also a scheme to train 10,000 people in the health sector in Kerala. Nationwide, 1 lakh people will be trained. The focus is on expanding the food processing system in the agricultural sector. Whatever food products are produced, the central govt is ready to market them. The Budget aims to focus on Kerala’s agriculture, fisheries, dairy production, tourism, and health sectors. Kerala should understand this and cooperate,” Karandlaje said. Kerala also gained significantly from tax transfers this year. Comparisons should be made between the figures from 10 years ago and now to understand the difference, she added.
