Congress calls LDF anti-Centre stir fake, announces 24-hour Raj Bhavan protest over MGNREGA

The Congress on Monday launched a two-pronged political offensive in Kerala, stepping up its attack on the Union Government over changes to the rural employment scheme while simultaneously dismissing the ruling Left Democratic Alliance’s (LDF) protests against the Centre as politically insincere.

Congress to picket Raj Bhavan over MGNREGA replacement

Congress has announced a 24-hour protest in front of the Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan) in Thiruvananthapuram, beginning at 10 am on January 13 and ending at 10 am the next day.

The agitation is aimed at opposing the Centre’s move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act.

State Congress leaders argue that the new legislation weakens the core promise of guaranteed employment and have demanded the restoration of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to protect workers’ rights.

The protest will be inaugurated by AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, with KPCC president Sunny Joseph presiding. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, MPs Shashi Tharoor and Ramesh Chennithala are expected to attend.

Congress distances itself from LDF’s Delhi protest

Even as both fronts criticise the Centre, the Congress has rejected the LDF’s recent anti-Central demonstrations in Delhi.

Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan described the LDF protest as a "fake agitation" intended to "tease" voters. He alleged an "unholy nexus" between the CPI(M) in Kerala and the Sangh Parivar in Delhi, questioning the timing of the protest so close to elections.

Venugopal also questioned the credibility of the LDF government’s stand. "I could've appreciated that if they had done this type of agitation continuously in the last ten years," he said, adding that the protest was meaningless at the "fag end" of the government’s tenure.

LDF alleges discrimination by Centre

Earlier on Monday, the ruling LDF staged its own protest accusing the Union Government of systematic "discrimination" against Kerala.

Excise Minister M B Rajesh said the Modi-led government had reduced grants, curtailed the state’s borrowing limits and delayed payments under several Central schemes.

He also referred to the Centre’s response to the Wayanad landslides, alleging that foreign aid and contributions were blocked, forcing the state to rely on the Chief Minister’s relief fund for reconstruction.

Federal tensions sharpen ahead of 2026 polls

As Kerala heads towards the 2026 Assembly elections, the dispute over federal funding and welfare schemes is intensifying.

CPI leader Binoy Viswam accused the Union Government of treating Kerala as a "stranger" and denying its "due share" of national wealth. "The Union government believes that Kerala is not a part of India," he said, asserting the state’s right to its economic entitlements within the federal structure.

With Congress and the LDF pursuing separate battles against the Centre, rural employment and fiscal autonomy are emerging as key fault lines in the state’s political debate.