Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and other United Democratic Front leaders releasing the manifesto of the front for the upcoming local body elections in Kochi on Monday.
| Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
Ensuring zero-waste in each local body, a detailed project to check stray dog menace and ₹2,000 special monthly allowance to the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) figure among the key promises included in the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) manifesto for the local body polls released in Kochi on Monday (November 24, 2025).
The second phase of the ‘Ashraya’ scheme for eradication of poverty, yearly increase of 10% in Plan Fund for local bodies and special fund allocation of 5% for projects to support the youth are among the key proposals that find a place in the document.
Timely implementation
Leader of the Opposition V.D Satheesan said that the focus will be on accurate planning, simplification of processes and time-bound implementation of projects undertaken by the local bodies. The officials and the local bodies will be accountable, if there is a delay in the implementation of the projects, he said.
He said that ‘Ashraya 2.0’ will be an improved version of the ambitious poverty eradication scheme launched during the previous UDF-rule under the late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Stray dog issue
On the plan to check stray dog menace, he said that the front has drafted a comprehensive plan as the situation has turned alarming, with the State reporting about 3.5 lakh stray dog bites and several deaths. Citing a rise in communicable diseases, the manifesto has promised to set up special squads under the local bodies to tackle the situation. Similar squads will also be formed to address the rising wildlife attacks. The local bodies will be given more powers to resolve the serious issue, said Mr. Satheesan.
The manifesto also promised to repair damaged roads within 48 hours by deploying an emergency response team of the engineering wing in local bodies. A 100-day plan will be formulated to renovate the pothole-ridden roads in panchayats, besides setting up a platform for the public to lodge their complaints.
Houses for all
The manifesto claims that the project to ensure houses for all will be completed in five years. All the wards under the local bodies will get condition-free development fund and community plans will be formulated for its utilisation. A special project will be initiated to address the housing problems faced by interstate workers.
Houses will be provided on rent to those in the low-income groups. A minimum of 100 days will be ensured to workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Skill Development Councils will be formed in each district under the District Planning Committee. An accreditation framework will be launched to ensure quality education in schools. The beneficiaries of welfare pensions need to carry out the mustering exercise once in two years, it said.
Other proposals
Other proposals include a special plan to tackle waterlogging in urban areas, geriatric wards in hospitals under the local bodies, modernisation of public markets, renovation of crematoriums, modern comfort stations, improvement in implementation of projects for the SC/ST communities and fisherfolk, entrepreneurship programmes for non-resident Keralites, mental health programmes, drug-free wards, encouragement of night life in local bodies with tourism potential, corruption-free local bodies, carbon-neutral local bodies, rejuvenation of sevagram panchayat centres to ensure services to the public and steps to end backdoor appointments in local bodies.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, UDF convener Adoor Prakash, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi, and front leaders, including P.K. Kunhalikutty, Shibu Baby John and C.P. John were present at the release of the manifesto.
Published – November 24, 2025 04:14 pm IST
