Kerala MPs seeks PM's help to get more budgetary allocation

Alleging negligence towards Kerala in the rail budget, MPs from the state's ruling Congress-led UDF today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought his intervention to get an improved budgetary allocation.
At the same time, Left party MPs from Kerala criticised the central ministers from the state and the Congress-led UDF for failing to get necessary allocation.
"The negligence towards Kerala is very serious...The rail budget allocation to the state has come down drastically. We need more money for railway infrastructure development, including doubling, electrification and new lines," said Congress leader P C Chacko, who was part of the UDF MPs' delegation.

He said the Prime Minister has assured them that he would ensure that Kerala gets its due for development of railway.
Accusing the Centre of ignoring the development needs of Kerala, CPI(M) MP P Karunakaran said, "This is a humiliation."
CPI(M) member in the Rajya Sabha K N Balagopal said, "Kerala's representation at the Centre has gone up to eight. It is a record presence. Moreover, the state is ruled by Congress-led UDF. But they miserably failed to fulfil the state's development needs."
They said Kerala's long-standing demand for the coach factory in Palakkad is yet to be materialise and the state had got no new lines.