The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has slammed the White Paper brought out by the United Democratic Front (UDF) government on the state of Kerala’s finances, maintaining that the document reinforces the privatisation policy being pursued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government.
The White Paper, the CPI(M) State secretariat said, hints at the State government retreating from welfare programmes and people-oriented development so far enjoyed by the people. It warned of serious public backlash against the government.
While the stated aim of the White Paper was to disclose the State’s financial status, the document announces the disinvestment or privatisation of departments that deliver public services, the CPI(M) said.
No democratic government considers health, education, public distribution, electricity, drinking water supply, and transport profit-oriented industries, as they are services to be given to the people. Approaching them on the basis of their ability to make profit is tantamount to looking at them through the prism of neo-liberal, privatisation policies. The White Paper shows that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is walking down the same road as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CPI(M) said.
The announcement to raise the retirement age on par with central services is equivalent to saying that there will be a ban on new appointments for the next five years. This is a challenge thrown at the State’s youth, the CPI(M) said.
Published – June 04, 2026 10:35 pm IST
