Kerala wants to move beyond LDF-UDF 'fixed match': PM
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that Kerala wants to move beyond the "fixed match" between LDF and UDF, ahead of his visit to the poll-bound state.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "I am eagerly looking forward to addressing the BJP-NDA public meeting being held in Thiruvananthapuram today. In the recent corporation elections, this city made history by blessing us. It is clear that Kerala wants to come out of the fixed match between LDF and UDF."
Today, Prime Minister Modi visited Kerala and laid the foundation stone for, inaugurated, and flagged off various developmental projects.
He flagged off four new train services and laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram.
He also addressed a gathering in Thiruvananthapuram on the occasion.
The projects span key sectors including rail connectivity, urban livelihoods, science and innovation, citizen-centric services and advanced healthcare, reflecting the Prime Minister's continued focus on inclusive growth, technological advancement and improved quality of life for citizens.
In a major boost to rail connectivity, the Prime Minister flagged off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one passenger train.
These include the Nagercoil-Mangaluru Amrit Bharat Express, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express, Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, and a new passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur.
The introduction of these services aims to significantly enhance long-distance and regional connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, making travel more affordable, safe and time-bound for passengers.
The improved connectivity will provide a strong impetus to tourism, trade, education, employment and cultural exchange across the region.
As part of efforts to strengthen urban livelihood, the Prime Minister launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, marking the next phase of financial inclusion for street vendors. The UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility will provide instant liquidity, promote digital transactions, and help beneficiaries build formal credit histories.
The Prime Minister also disbursed PM SVANidhi loans to one lakh beneficiaries, including street vendors from Kerala. Since its inception in 2020, the PM SVANidhi scheme has enabled first-time access to formal credit for the vast majority of beneficiaries and has played a critical role in poverty alleviation and livelihood security for urban informal workers.
In the field of science and innovation, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram.
The hub focuses on life sciences and the bio-economy, integrates traditional knowledge systems such as Ayurveda with modern biotechnology, sustainable packaging, and green hydrogen, and promotes startup creation, technology transfer, and global collaboration. It will serve as a platform for converting research into market-ready solutions and enterprises.
Strengthening healthcare infrastructure was another key focus of the visit. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram.
The facility provides highly precise, minimally invasive treatment for complex brain disorders, enhancing regional tertiary healthcare capabilities.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the new Poojappura Head Post Office in Thiruvananthapuram.
This modern, technology-enabled facility offers a comprehensive range of postal, banking, insurance and digital services, further strengthening citizen-centric service delivery.
