Thiruvananthapuram, June 3 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday criticised the UDF government’s policy address, alleging that it was a document prepared to mislead the people of Kerala and accused the Congress-led-UDF government of remaining silent on corruption allegations and the Sabarimala gold theft controversy.

Addressing a press conference at the state BJP headquarters, BJP MLAs Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. Muraleedharan and B.B. Gopakumar said the policy address failed to present a clear roadmap for Kerala’s development and financial recovery.

The BJP leaders alleged that the state government was attempting to shift the blame for Kerala’s economic and development challenges entirely on the Centre while concealing its own failures.

They said the presence of three BJP members in the Kerala Assembly had created a new political situation and asserted that the party would respond strongly to what they described as “one-sided attacks against the Union government”.

The BJP leaders claimed that the state government had failed to properly implement several welfare and development schemes announced by the Centre.

They also alleged that the policy address had no concrete proposals to increase Kerala’s own revenue or tackle the financial crisis facing the state.

Former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan said the previous LDF government had repeatedly blamed the Centre to cover up its shortcomings, while the UDF had failed to effectively counter those claims.

“With the BJP now having representation in the Kerala Assembly, such attempts would be challenged with facts,” he added.

Gopakumar said the policy address did not explain how the Kerala government planned to increase revenue, implement announced projects or find resources for them.

Meanwhile, senior CPI-M leader S.S. Biju joined the BJP at the event held at Mararji Bhavan.

Biju, who had served as Kazhakkoottam Town Local Committee secretary and held other party positions, said he was joining the BJP attracted by State Party President Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s vision of a developed Kerala.

At the recent Assembly polls, the BJP reopened their account by winning three seats.

At the 2016 polls, the BJP opened their account for the first time but failed to retain the seat at the 2021 polls.

–IANS

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