Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared that Kerala has become the first state in India to eradicate extreme poverty.
Published Nov 01, 2025 | 6:55 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 01, 2025 | 6:55 PM
Even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally declared Kerala free of extreme poverty, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan termed the claim a big fraud.
Synopsis: Opposition leader VD Satheesan questioned the authenticity of the government’s figures, pointing out that while the LDF’s 2016 manifesto estimated 4.5 lakh extremely poor people, the chief minister now claimed that the number had dwindled to 64,000 “overnight.”
A war of words erupted in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Saturday, 1 November — the day the state celebrated its 69th formation anniversary — as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally declared Kerala “free from extreme poverty”.
The moment, which the government described as “historic”, was marred by a dramatic walkout by the Opposition, which termed the declaration “a big fraud”.
Before the Chief Minister could rise to make his statement — moved as a resolution under Rule 300 of the Assembly — the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) announced its boycott of the special session.
“The claim that Kerala is free of extreme poverty is a big fraud. We cannot be party to this fraud. So we are boycotting the day’s proceedings,” declared Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan, leading the walkout.
Satheesan also cited the ongoing agitation over the “Sabarimala gold theft” issue as another reason for the boycott.
“Since the last Assembly session, we have been campaigning both inside and outside the House, demanding the resignation of the Devaswom Minister and the dissolution of the Travancore Devaswom Board. We cannot cooperate,” he said.
The Opposition leader further questioned the very need for a special session when, according to him, the details of the resolution were already in the public domain.
Responding to the Opposition’s charges before reading the resolution, Vijayan said, “I don’t understand why the Opposition is afraid of declaring Kerala an extreme poverty-free state. What they call a fraud is, in fact, a reflection of their own habits.”
He reminded the House that the government had already announced its intention to make the declaration on 1 November 2025, after the final family identified under the scheme was lifted out of extreme poverty.
“The information about that family was updated on the government website and later shared with the media. This is not a secret matter,” he said.
Asserting that the declaration had “historical importance”, the chief minister said the Assembly was the most appropriate platform to inform “our country, our state, and the world”.
“This government always says what it can implement. The people of Kerala support us because we do what we say. The Left government has fulfilled its promises and taken steps to sustain what has been achieved,” Vijayan concluded, marking the culmination of one of the LDF government’s most publicised welfare missions — amid the Opposition’s boycott.
Later, sharpening its attack on the government’s declaration, Opposition leaders came down heavily, calling it a “collection of blatant lies” and a “PR campaign to mislead people ahead of elections.”
Speaking to the media after boycotting the Assembly session, Satheesan alleged that the session had been reduced to a farce, convened merely to facilitate the chief minister’s “self-congratulatory statement.”
Satheesan questioned the authenticity of the government’s figures, pointing out that while the LDF’s 2016 manifesto estimated 4.5 lakh extremely poor people, the chief minister now claimed that the number had dwindled to 64,000 “overnight.”
He also cited government replies in the Assembly stating that 5.91 lakh people in Kerala possess the Union Government’s Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards and noted that only 6,400 out of 1.16 lakh tribal families were included in the poverty-free list.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition PK Kunhalikutty termed the declaration “dangerous,” warning that it could deprive Kerala of Central assistance meant for underprivileged sections.
He said the announcement creates a false impression that the state no longer needs welfare benefits despite its financial crisis.
MLA Anoop Jacob echoed similar concerns, demanding that the government clarify the basis of its claim, adding that even rations for 5.91 lakh AAY cardholders were under threat.
Meanwhile, in the absence of the Opposition, Vijayan, in a historic announcement in the Legislative Assembly, declared that Kerala has become the first state in India to eradicate extreme poverty.
Calling it the dawn of a new era, he said the declaration marked a milestone in the state’s journey towards building a “New Kerala.”
The chief minister recalled that the initiative to eradicate extreme poverty was one of the first decisions of his cabinet in 2021 and was implemented through an extensive participatory process involving local bodies, Kudumbashree, KILA, and various departments.
The identification of 64,006 families — comprising 1,03,099 individuals — as extremely poor was followed by micro-level planning to ensure food, housing, healthcare, and income security.
He noted that Kerala’s poverty eradication journey, rooted in land reforms, strong public health and education systems, and an equitable distribution network, had transformed a state that once had one of the highest poverty rates in India into a model for inclusive development.
The chief minister highlighted that Kerala’s extreme poverty-free status was achieved through sustained welfare interventions — including Life Mission housing, social security pensions, and employment schemes — with more than ₹1,000 crore spent on the programme.
He cited NITI Aayog’s 2022–23 Multidimensional Poverty Index, which placed only 0.48% of Kerala’s population below the poverty line, as proof of progress.
Emphasising the importance of sustaining this achievement, Vijayan said periodic checks and continued support would ensure that no one slips back into extreme poverty.
He credited mass movements, people’s participation, and progressive governance for this success, asserting that Kerala’s model of participatory poverty eradication will serve as an inspiration for the rest of India.
The grand function planned by the state government to declare the state free from extreme poverty has suffered a setback, with two of its star guests — Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal — unable to attend.
It’s learnt that Haasan informed that he has a prior engagement in Chennai, while Mohanlal, currently in Dubai, also expressed his inability to join.
However, actor Mammootty arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday morning.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
