A year into power, Kerala CM slams UDF government's rule

Just four days shy of completing one year in power, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday slammed the previous Oommen Chandy government while listing out his own government's priorities and achievements.

Unlike his predecessors, Vijayan rarely meets the media, but took time off on Saturday for the interaction that stretched to almost 90 minutes.

Vijayan, who took over as Chief Minister of a Left Democratic Front government on May 25, 2016, claimed that "corruption had been rooted out completely in Kerala".

He said Chandy's rule was marked by absence of any system, misuse of power, corruption, and immorality.

"In the past one year, we have been able to put a system in place... it has been made clear there will be no political godfathers for wrongdoers, which was not the case earlier," the Chief Minister said.

"During their times it was only negative news that came out of our state; now, it's positive news," Vijayan said.

The Left leader said his government stood firm on the state's developmental needs and hence were able to move forward on land acquisition for national highways, laying of gas pipelines for Gas Authority of India Limited and putting up supply lines from the Kudamkulam power plant in Tamil Nadu to Kerala.

He said education, health, housing, and the Haritha Kerala project that aims to remove waste from all water bodies in Kerala, were a priority for his government.

"In one year, we have rejuvenated the otherwise dying traditional industries of handloom, coir and cashew through modernisation endeavours," the Chief Minister said.

He said the LDF government was also able to clear dues of Rs 1,900 crore on account of social welfare pensions.

--IANS

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