NDA manifesto lures Kerala

Kochi: The BJP-led NDA on Tuesday launched its manifesto for Kerala Assembly elections including Rs 3000 monthly pension for women heads of poor households, Malayala Manorama reported.
Launching the document for five years from 2026 at Thiruvananthapuram, BJP Chief Nitin Nabin said the Rs 3000 monthly pension is also for widows and senior citizens above 70.
The BJP promised to introduce a food and health card for women from poor and BPL families, with a monthly recharge of ₹2,500.
The card can be used for purchasing groceries and medicines.
It has promised two free LPG cylinders every year for poor families, to be distributed during Onam and Christmas.
It promised to expand Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY for all during medical emergencies. It promised to set up the first AIIMS.
Other promises include free 20,000 litres of water per month to households and minimum support price (MSP) coverage for all crops requiring support.
It proposes an Employment Linked Incentive Scheme, offering soft loans of ₹1 lakh per job created for Kerala residents. A major thrust is placed on developing Vizhinjam Port into a large industrial hub, with plans for a ship repair and marine engineering cluster, a dedicated industrial corridor and improved rail connectivity.
It has outlined city-specific economic visions, including positioning Thiruvananthapuram as an IT and innovation capital, Kochi as a shipbuilding hub, and Kozhikode as a healthcare innovation centre.
The BJP has promised a high-speed railway corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, alongside expansion of the metro network including metro services in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
The manifesto proposes introducing optional English-medium instruction in state-run schools over the next five years.
Agriculture and plantation sectors also feature prominently, with assurances to amend land and forestry laws to enable multi-crop farming in plantation areas.
The event was attended by senior leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Kerala, including Twenty20 chief coordinator Sabu M Jacob, BDJS chief and NDA convener Thushar Vellappally, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor V V Rajesh, and Deputy Mayor Ashanath, among others.
A key political highlight is the promise of a time-bound CBI inquiry into the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala Temple.
Revamping of Devaswom Boards to increase devotee participation in temple management and curb corruption, Sabarimala Infrastructure Development Mission” to improve facilities for pilgrims are among the proposals in the manifesto.