The Kerala BJP president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has sharply criticized the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s declarations of eliminating extreme poverty, labeling them as mere ‘propaganda.’ He asserts that any progress in reducing poverty within the state is primarily attributable to initiatives funded by the Union government.
During a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, October 27, 2025, Mr. Chandrasekhar highlighted that Kerala’s poverty rates were already low back in 2014. He questioned why the state government took more than a decade to address what he described as a ‘minuscule’ level of remaining poverty, and why over ₹1,000 crore was expended for this purpose.
In stark contrast, Mr. Chandrasekhar pointed out that the Narendra Modi-led central government significantly reduced extreme poverty across India from 16.2% to 2.3% over the same period, lifting a remarkable 17 crore (170 million) people out of severe destitution. Meanwhile, in Kerala, only 2.72 lakh (272,000) individuals were reportedly brought out of poverty during this timeframe.
He further emphasized that key Union government programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat have played a crucial role in the nationwide efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, suggesting their impact extended to Kerala’s figures.