No disaster aid from Centre, vote for BJP will be disaster for Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan

Union Home Minister Amit Shah challenged Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for a debate on disaster fund allocation at the inaugural session of the Manorama News Conclave 2025 on Friday. Pinarayi Vijayan didn't take up the challenge per se, but he tore into Amit Shah's claims one by one at the valedictory session of the conclave held at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre in Kochi. Pinarayi simply didn't counter Amit Shah, he, instead, drew on past instances to show how unkind the BJP-led Centre has been towards Kerala.

Shah claimed in the morning session of the conclave that the Centre had given ₹5,100 crore to Kerala as disaster relief since 2014, as opposed to the ₹1,342 crore during the UPA regime, but none of this is felt as the money flowed to the CPM cadre. Pinarayi not just busted the statement with figures but also wondered with a concealed smirk. "They haven't given a rupee as aid, and then they come here and tell us how much they have given, unbelievable," Pinarayi said with as much cynicism as he could.

Pinarayi said that disaster fund allocation for states is decided by the Finance Commission formed as per the constitutional norms. "Shah should have remembered that disaster fund is not decided by the Centre. This constitutional right is being portrayed as charity. It's an insult to the state. The Prime Minister was here when landslide hit Wayanad. He surveyed the damage but didn't bother to offer any aid. The Home Minister should have remembered that".

The CM didn't stop at that. He recalled how the Centre had denied permission to Kerala ministers to visit foreign countries to receive aid for rebuilding Kerala post the 2018 floods. "When the same PM was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, his state was hit by a natural disaster, and then there was no impediment to receiving external help. When he became the PM, he wouldn't let Kerala accept foreign assistance," said Pinarayi.

The Chief Minister had stated in the Legislative Assembly that several foreign countries, including the UAE, had expressed a wish to make contributions for post-flood relief works in Kerala. However, the consent was denied by the Centre. The reply further shows that while permission was sought to send delegations comprising various ministers and higher officials to mobilise funds for relief works, permission was given only for the Chief Minister and the Principal Secretary.

As for Shah's declaration that the BJP will win 25% of the votes in the coming local body polls in Kerala, Pinarayi's reply was again sarcastic. "Nobody can stop someone from dreaming. Keralites know that every vote for BJP will deprive them of the identity of this land. Will we be able to wear the dress we like, eat the food we like, will we be able to go to religious places as we wish, if the BJP comes to power? Here, threats won't give you the influence you look for. Amit Shah's declaration about cornering votes is serious, we should understand that if that happens all our rights and privilege will be lost," he said. He also reiterated that CPM doesn't make alliances with communal forces, and it stands for secularism.

Pinarayi to lead election campaign
When asked if he will be leading the party's campaign in the next assembly elections, Pinarayi said election is the biggest political battle and he will offer any service to the party as required.

Earlier, party secretary MV Govindan said during a session at the conclave that the party will go into the assembly election campaign led by Pinarayi Vijayan