Summary of this article
LDF, UDF unveil manifestos simultaneously
UDF stresses five guarantees, including free travel for women in state-run buses,
Left to continue its policies, focus on youth, women, and infrastructure development
With just six days to go for the polls, Kerala’s two principal fronts—the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF—unveiled their manifestos simultaneously. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan released the LDF manifesto in Kozhikode, while the UDF document was launched by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
The LDF manifesto reflects the development trajectory pursued by the Left government over the past decade, emphasising continuity in its policy approach. In contrast, the UDF’s manifesto aligns closely with the Congress’s national leadership policies, foregrounding welfare-driven policies—an approach that has been central to the party’s governance model in states like Telangana and Karnataka.
The LDF manifesto, brought out in two volumes, outlines 60 key points that the ruling front seeks to prioritise if voted to power for a third consecutive term. It asserts that the Left will resist any attempt by the Union government to dilute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme, and pledges to sustain the scheme with state funding if required.
The document also lays out the front’s policy direction across sectors such as industry, agriculture, and women’s empowerment. Under its proposed ‘Mission 100000’, the LDF says it will support nano enterprises in scaling up into Rs 1-crore-level ventures, aiming to strengthen the state’s small-scale industrial base. At the same time, the document states that the new government will facilitate the growth of 1,000 small enterprises into Rs 100-crore companies. Striking a balance between welfarism and economic growth, the manifesto underscores that the government’s support schemes for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector will continue to be implemented with sustained focus and rigour.
On the agricultural front, the Left promises to help farmers enhance productivity and bring it on par with the national average. The manifesto identifies precision farming, mechanisation, and the use of hybrid seeds as key drivers to improve output, as the state lags behind national productivity levels. It also envisages establishing Local Primary Markets in every panchayat and strengthening Farmer-Producer Companies to improve market access and collective bargaining.
On infrastructure, the manifesto promises to make the state power-surplus by expanding renewable energy capacity. It also pledges to make Kerala level-crossing-free in the coming years and to continue efforts to secure the proposed High-Speed Railway Corridor. Additionally, metro rail projects are proposed in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram and in Kozhikode.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state was able to deal with challenges such as devastating floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Nipah virus infection outbreaks due to the Left government’s clear policy direction. He added that the Left would continue to prioritise women’s empowerment programmes.
Meanwhile, even before the formal launch of its manifesto, the UDF had announced a five-point agenda it would pursue if voted to power. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi outlined these “guarantees,” which include free travel for women in public transport buses, health insurance for every family, a stipend for college-going girls, and financial assistance for young entrepreneurs. Releasing the manifesto, Opposition Leader VD Satheeshan said the UDF will evolve separate housing schemes for the SC/ST and fisherman communities.
The manifesto also outlines ‘five dream projects’. Among them, Mission Samudra envisages integrating the state’s 600-km coastline, 44 rivers, lakes, four international airports, and high-range regions to elevate Kerala’s position in the global maritime sector.
Satheesan said a “job watch tower” would be established to track changing skill requirements in the job market and align the state’s higher education sector accordingly. He also announced that, to promote the cultural and educational development of tribal communities, a tribal university would be set up in Wayanad.
The UDF has also promised to enact the Rohith Vemula Act to address discriminatory practices on campuses. Additionally, the manifesto pledges to initiate steps to acquire over five lakh acres of land currently held by private estate groups even after the expiry of lease agreements. Various Dalit organisations have long demanded that such land be taken over and redistributed among landless SC/ST communities.
Several Dalit groups have extended their support to the UDF in the upcoming polls, adding a significant social dimension to the electoral contest.
The BJP, which released its manifesto last week, has promised an increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000 and two free LPG cylinders annually. It has also pledged measures to protect key places of worship such as Sabarimala Temple and Guruvayur Temple.
Taken together, the manifestos reflect an increasing emphasis on welfarism across political parties, driven by the belief that such promises can translate into electoral gains. However, given Kerala’s strained fiscal position, rising debt, and often fraught ties with the Union government, the bigger question is whether these commitments can be realistically implemented.
That said, in Kerala, the execution of manifesto promises is closely scrutinised by political rivals, making delivery—not just declaration—a key factor in shaping public perception.
