Kerala CM leads delegation to Delhi as part of LDF’s outreach to Centre for State’s development

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is leading a high-level ministerial delegation to New Delhi as part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s outreach to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government for the State’s development.

Mr. Vijayan is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday (October 9, 2025).

Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas are accompanying Mr. Vijayan. A team of top bureaucrats are also accompanying them.

Mr. Riyas told reporters in New Delhi that the prime focus of the meetings is on forging a consensus between the Central and the State governments for Kerala’s development.

“Politics has taken a back seat. Controversies might hit headlines. However, they are transient and have no bearing on the people of Kerala and their development, welfare, and economic aspirations,” he said.

Sidesteps query on Suresh Gopi, Kurian

Mr. Riyas sidestepped the question about whether the two Union Ministers from Kerala – Suresh Gopi and George Kurian – had made any meaningful contribution to the State’s parley with the Centre on various aspects, including tourism and NH-66 development, among other pressing issues.

“We aim to take everybody along to achieve the State’s development and welfare goals. Unnecessary controversies can best be a hurdle to Kerala’s development. They are best avoided,” he added. 

Host of issues

Kerala has a host of issues to take up with the Central government, including Wayanad landslides relief, the impact of the new GST regime on State revenue, the prohibitive tax on State-run lottery, permission to kill wildlife that poses an immediate threat to human life, demand to declare marauding wild boars as vermin, and relegation of feral monkeys to Schedule 1 of the Wild Life Act.