Vijayan rebuts Revanth Reddy’s Criticism, Defends Kerala Model

Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday mounted a strong counterattack against his Telangana counterpart Revanth Reddy, rejecting allegations made during the latter’s campaign in Kerala and defending the state’s governance record.

In a sharply worded Facebook post, Vijayan described Reddy as “misinformed” and accused him of ridiculing Kerala and its people while overlooking challenges within his own state. He alleged that Reddy was selectively criticising Kerala’s welfare policies while ignoring issues such as the demolition of homes of the poor in Telangana.

The Kerala Chief Minister dismissed claims of corruption and administrative failure, asserting that official data placed Kerala among the least corrupt states in the country. He cited the state’s top ranking in the NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Index (2023–24) , along with its low poverty rate, high literacy, and strong healthcare indicators, to reinforce his argument.

Highlighting comparative data, Vijayan pointed out that Kerala’s poverty rate stood significantly lower than Telangana’s and noted substantial differences in literacy levels and infant mortality rates. He also remarked that improved healthcare systems in Kerala contribute to higher life expectancy.

Turning the criticism back on Reddy, Vijayan questioned the consistency of his remarks, stating that while Telangana has sought to learn from Kerala’s welfare initiatives, its chief minister was publicly disparaging them. He further accused the Congress of failing to effectively oppose central policies that he said were financially constraining Kerala.

Vijayan also raised concerns over governance in Telangana, alleging delays in salary and pension disbursements. Concluding his response, he asserted that it was Reddy who should draw lessons from Kerala’s development model and invited him to visit the state to study its welfare framework.

The exchange follows Reddy’s criticism of the Left government while campaigning for UDF candidates ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls, reflecting intensifying political contestation between rival parties in the state.