The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), has officially declared its primary focus for the upcoming local body elections: a resolute campaign to eradicate poverty at the household level. This crucial agenda was unveiled on Sunday, November 2, 2025, signaling a clear direction for the party’s election narrative.
During a recent press conference, CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan highlighted the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) previous success in eliminating extreme poverty. He emphasized, “Now, our government’s top priority is comprehensive poverty eradication. This includes tackling pressing issues like homelessness and ensuring stable livelihoods for all citizens.”
Govindan also introduced an enticing proposal: an increase in the monthly social welfare pension from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500. However, this promising boost comes with a significant condition – the central government must lift its “financial embargo” on Kerala and release the staggering ₹2 lakh crore in obligatory federal funds owed to the state.
Insights from Niti Aayog Report
Citing the 2021 Niti Aayog report, Mr. Govindan pointed out that only an estimated 0.7% of Kerala’s population was suffering from daily deprivations, such as lack of housing and inadequate livelihood opportunities. He proudly noted that the 2025 Niti Aayog report further confirmed a reduction in multidimensional poverty in Kerala to the same 0.7%.
“If the LDF can successfully eradicate extreme poverty, then achieving the goal of eliminating multidimensional poverty is undoubtedly within our state’s reach,” he asserted. He contrasted Kerala’s progress with other states, mentioning that in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, a significant 28% of the population still struggles below the poverty line. Govindan firmly refuted the opposition leader V.D. Satheesan’s claim that the LDF eradicated poverty with a “magic wand.”
A Collective Endeavor
Govindan clarified that the achievement was the result of extensive, all-out community efforts involving countless volunteers. This non-political, bipartisan initiative saw participation from various UDF-controlled district panchayats, corporations, municipalities, and grama panchayats. Key contributors included Kudumbashree workers, ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and local residents’ associations.
He shared an example from Ernakulam, the home district of the Leader of the Opposition, where the Congress-led district panchayat initially faced difficulties in declaring poverty eradication due to issues with a single beneficiary. The State Cabinet swiftly intervened, resolving the anomaly and allowing Ernakulam to be part of the November 1 declaration. The LDF’s social welfare security net now supports nearly a crore individuals, encompassing agricultural workers, widows, senior citizens, transgender individuals, disabled citizens, economically disadvantaged women aged 18 to 35 (approximately 34 lakh), and aspiring educated job seekers. The roadmap for the LDF’s local body campaign was solidified during the recent CPI(M) State secretariat and State committee meetings, attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and LDF convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan, as they prepare for the final stretch before the election announcement.