NEW DELHI: Union minister George Kurian’s remark on Sunday that Kerala should declare itself a backward state to secure better allocations in the Union Budget has ignited a major controversy.
Addressing concerns raised by Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and finance minister K N Balagopal regarding the centre’s budget, Kurian said: “If Kerala announces that it is backward—that it lacks roads and quality education—then the Finance Commission will examine it and report to the central government.If Kerala is behind other states in education, infrastructure, and social welfare, the Centre will allocate funds accordingly.”
Kurian’s comments, made to reporters in the national capital, come amid strong criticism of the Union Budget 2025-26 by both the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress in Kerala. The two parties accused the central government of overlooking the state’s critical demands.
Vijayan, Balagopal, and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan expressed their disappointment, claiming that key state demands—including a Rs 24,000 crore special financial package and rehabilitation aid for Wayanad—had been ignored in the budget. The trio described the budget as “condemnable,” “extremely disappointing,” and “unfortunate.”
The CPI(M) quickly responded, condemning both the Union Budget, presented by Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Kurian’s comments. CPI(M) State Secretary M V Govindan and senior leader E P Jayarajan accused Kurian of adopting an “anti-Kerala” stance in the allocation of funds to the state.
The CPI(M) intensified its criticism, alleging that the BJP-led Centre had deliberately sidelined Kerala in the budget, pushing what they termed an “anti-Kerala” agenda. Govindan claimed that despite Kerala’s strong performance in human development, health, and education, the BJP had consistently worked against the state’s interests.
“The BJP’s aim is to make Kerala poor and backward. After their failed attempts to tighten their grip on the state, they are now trying to push Kerala backward by denying it the funds it deserves,” Govindan said.
Echoing these views, Jayarajan accused the Centre of political discrimination in fund allocations, violating federal principles, and undermining secular values. He called for a united Kerala to protest against Kurian’s statement, urging the Centre to recognize India as a united nation where all states are treated equally.
“The people of Kerala must unite and protest against the Union minister’s statement that the state must regress in all areas of development to receive central allocations,” Jayarajan said.
This criticism follows earlier claims from Kerala’s leadership that the state’s key demands—such as the special financial package and Wayanad rehabilitation aid—were disregarded in the Union Budget.