Opposing fronts offer to hike welfare pension, enhanced health insurance coverage, Metro Rail

Kerala's UDF and LDF unveil manifestos promising welfare pension hikes, health insurance, and Metro projects ahead of the 2026 elections.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition alliance, United Democratic Front (UDF), have separately offered to improve social welfare schemes for the weaker sections and introduce women-specific projects on Thursday (April 2, 2026) to win the trust of voters in their poll manifestos.

The two opposing fronts released their manifestos for the 2026 Kerala Assembly election on the same day.

The UDF manifesto was dominated by five guarantees and five dream projects with special emphasis on women. The guarantees of the front include free bus travel for women on buses of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 each for college-going girls, an increase in welfare pension to ₹3,000 per month, ₹25-lakh health insurance cover for every household and interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh for youths to start their own businesses.

The Congress-led front hopes to garner the support of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), who have long been demanding wage revision, through the promise to increase their daily wage to ₹700 and revise the salary of anganwadi workers and those involved in the preparation of mid-day meals in schools.

A ‘Mission Samudra,’ which envisaged integrating the possibilities offered by the State’s 600-km coastline, 44 rivers, 34 lakes, four international airports, and high-range areas to elevate Kerala’s position in the world’s maritime sector, was the highlight of the dream project. Setting up of a modern pilot and aviation staff training facility, development of the second phase of the runway of Cochin International Airport Limited and the overall development of the Kannur airport have found place in the manifesto.

The party has repeated its promise to enact legislation to protect the religious rights of Sabarimala devotees, an offer which it had made during the protests following the Supreme Court order permitting the temple entry of women.