Kerala Budget: UDF slams it as ‘political tool filled with empty promises’ ahead of Assembly elections

UDF criticizes Kerala's budget as a political tool filled with empty promises ahead of upcoming Assembly elections.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition in Kerala termed the 2026-27 Budget on Thursday an “interim political document stuffed with hyperbole and airy populist promises to hoodwink voters” and boost its re-election chances in the upcoming Assembly elections. 

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan termed the Budget “an inconsequential exercise in smoke and mirrors, projecting a chimera of a fiscally healthy welfare State.” He said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) “political manifesto feigned populist, pro-development and welfare to dupe the electorate.”

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Mr. Satheesan challenged the government to conduct a performance audit of the LDF 2025-26 Budget and publish a White Paper. He said the current “interim Budget lacked credibility like its predecessors”, and that “75% of LDF’s budgetary promises remain on paper.” 

Mr Satheesan said Kerala’s finances had “grievously haemorrhaged” under a decade of LDF rule. “The revenue deficit has worsened. The government has diverted funds, including from workers’ welfare boards, and resorted to heavy borrowing to meet day-to-day expenditures, including salaries, pensions, and social welfare doles,” he said.

Mr Satheesan said the State’s coffers are dry due to poor fiscal planning and shoddy tax administration. “The LDF’s tax administration has dismally failed the people. Being a consumer State, Kerala pays the highest end-of-the-sales-point tax on consumer goods. Optimally, Kerala should have been the top beneficiary under the GST regime. However, the State’s GST share has dwindled over the years”, he added.