Pinarayi govt in Kerala ‘itself a brand in PR exercise’, slams Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese mouthpiece

The Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese criticizes Kerala's government for prioritizing PR over governance, highlighting various controversial actions.

The Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Catholic Church has come down heavily on the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala, calling it a “brand in PR exercise.”

In a hard-hitting editorial of the latest issue of its mouthpiece Sathyadeepam, the archdiocese called the government out on a variety of issues, including the launch of a new brand of liquor, alleged data breach and spending on publicity campaigns.

“Was it because the government failed to build a notable brand in the fields of health, education, or tourism during its years in power that it thought of launching a liquor brand called ‘Minnal Magic’ at lightning speed during the election season?,” the editorial asked.

It said if one were to review the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government’s public relations efforts aimed at transforming public perception about its governance failures, “it would not be an exaggeration to say that the government itself is a brand in election-time PR campaigns.”

Citing the Opposition United Democratic Front’s (UDF) allegation that the government spent nearly ₹150 crore last year (2025) alone on advertisements funded through KIIFB borrowings, the editorial slammed the government for conducting the Nava Kerala Survey and an international conclave under the banner ‘Vision 2031’.

“It is being claimed that if the government does not get re-elected, everything initiated by it will come to a halt. It is as if the people are unaware that administrative systems continue even when governments change,” the article said.