We are paying price for UDF’s inefficiency, says CM Pinarayi at Puthuppally; stresses on development

Puthuppally: Speaking at the election campaign for LDF candidate Jaick C Thomas in the Puthuppally bypoll, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the previous UDF government for not ‘taking any measures’ to ensure development of roads during their rule between 2011-2016. The CM said that the amount spent by Kerala for National Highway development is a fine incurred as a result of UDF’s inefficiency. 

“When we gave land for the highway, they (NHAI) did not acquire it. They complained about the high prices of land in the state. After talks, it was decided that the state government would incur 25 per cent of the cost. We have paid more than Rs 5,000 crore to them," the CM said. He alleged that the situation arose because the UDF government did not act on time.

"Now, people are exhilarated with the progress of NH widening. Kerala can equate with other developed areas in basic infrastructure facilities. This is what people want. Try and imagine what would be the case if the LDF government had not come into power in 2016 and that it didn’t succeed in 2021. Would there have been any changes in the condition of the national highway?” Pinarayi Vijayan asked.

This is why we say that progress can only happen if the government has a sense of responsibility for the state. This progress is not just for the people of a particular region, but for the state as a whole. This is the LDF perspective- progress that is for the welfare of all, the CM added.

The CM alleged that many major agencies of India like GAIL had to abandon their projects in Kerala due to the past government’s inefficiency. It was in 2016 that the GAIL pipelines project was renewed in Kerala after the LDF government came to power. Soon this will reach most homes in Kerala, he promised.

He also spoke about the laurels gained by the government especially on the health and education fronts.