UDF govt. set to privatise major sectors, says Pinarayi

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has alleged that the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala is trying to reverse the achievements gained by the State in the recent past and even “the sea and the sky” here are “all set to be privatised”.

He was in Kozhikode on Sunday (June 28, 2026) to deliver a speech in memory of senior Congress leader C.K. Govindan Nair and former Minister A.C. Shanmughadas.

Mr. Vijayan claimed that Kerala was witnessing the return of certain undesirable things that had prevailed in the State a decade ago. “The UDF government came to power because the people wanted a change. But we should also examine what kind of changes are being brought in by the new government. Whatever was considered our advantage is being reversed,” he said.

Mr. Vijayan alleged that the Union government and the Sangh Parivar had been trying to divide people by fanning communalism. However, the recently presented Revised Budget did not have even a word on this, he said. The document was also silent on how the Centre had been economically strangling Kerala.

Mr. Vijayan alleged that the Budget document and the White Paper did not contain a word on extreme poverty, too. LIFE Mission, which provided homes to the homeless, had been abandoned. There was a clear indication that these projects would not continue.

“Important sectors such as education, health, and electricity are going to be privatised. There are clear indications for this… Kerala’s sky and sea are all set to be privatised. Sand mining is going to be privatised. The most important thing is the alliance with crony capitalism and clear signals are coming,” he said. Mr. Vijayan claimed that the Left Democratic Front government, however, could implement an alternative to the neo-liberal economic policies. Later, he presented an award in memory of Shanmughadas to the former Minister and socialist leader K. Krishnankutty.