Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, on Sunday announced a one-day Satyagraha in Thiruvananthapuramon January 12, protesting what he termed as the “financial strangulation” of the state by the Centre.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said Kerala was opening a “new front of resistance” against what he described as continued fiscal sanctions imposed by the Union government.
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The post reads, “Kerala opens a new front of resistance on Jan 12th at Thiruvananthapuram against the ongoing financial strangulation by the centre. A one-day Satyagraha with mass participation will be held, marking the state’s protest against the sanctions. “
Kerala opens a new front of resistance on Jan 12th at Thiruvananthapuram against the ongoing financial strangulation by the centre. A one-day Satyagraha with mass participation will be held, marking the state’s protest against the sanctions. The bleak picture of the financial…
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) January 11, 2026 Borrowing limits slashed by Rs.17,000 crore
According to Vijayan, the Centre has reduced Kerala’s eligible borrowing limit by Rs. 5,900 crore for the last three months (January–March) of the current financial year. He claimed that the total reduction in borrowing limits for 2024–25 alone amounts to Rs. 17,000 crore, severely impacting the state’s finances.
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Additional loan and borrowing permissions pending
The Chief Minister said Kerala’s request for an additional Rs. 6,000 crore loan, sought as compensation for the state’s expenditure on National Highway land acquisition, remains pending with the Centre. He also alleged that Rs. 3,300 crore worth of borrowing permission has been denied on the grounds of guarantee deposits, further constraining the state’s fiscal space.
IGST dues withheld, scheme arrears mount
Vijayan further claimed that Rs. 965 crore of IGST recovery is currently being withheld by the Centre, while arrears under centrally sponsored schemes have reached Rs.5,784 crore.
Calling these measures a deliberate attempt to stall Kerala’s development, the Chief Minister said the state would collectively oppose the actions through the January 12 Satyagraha. “The concerted efforts to stall Kerala’s progress will be duly resisted by our people. We shall fight, we shall win,” he said. |
