Kochi : Congress is encouraging of those opposed to development, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. UDF, in particular Congress, has been generally opposed to development ifor the State. In fact, the State is paying price for Congress's incompetent handling of developmental affairs of the State. CM was speaking at the election campaign for LDF candidate Dr. Jo Joseph at Punnithra.
Kerala has been able to accomplish national and international recognition of its developmental feats. Some leaders in UDF however, are unable to digest this and are forever contemplating ways to somehow prevent all these advancements. Based on their experiences of past, public held no hopes of any development happening. Traditionally, it is the National Highway Authority of India(NHAI) that bears the cost for national highway expansions. However, owing to its bitter experience with UDF governments, the NHAI was unwilling to undertake expansions in Kerala. The State is now bearing 25 percent of cost. The State govt has paid Rs 5000 crore toward land acquisition in this regard. UDF is solely to blame for this state of affairs. Expansion of national highways, the GAIL pipeline and Kochi Edamann Power Corridor are all projects that UDF failed to take forward and became successfully implemented by LDF after coming to power.
Development is the focus of discussion in Thrikkakara byelection. As part of overall development impending for the State, Thrikkakara’s own development for the future is up for debate. Question is, should Thrikkakara choose a pro-development representative or one that is opposed to it. Taking view of the LDF candidate as a representative who will walk Thrikkakara alongside government’s plans for development, people must opt for Dr. Jo Joseph, said CM.
