CPI(M) leaders back Pinarayi Vijayan as Leader of Opposition in Kerala assembly
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): CPI(M) leaders T M Thomas Isaac and Saji Cherian on Saturday backed former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to become the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly.
Speaking to reporters, senior CPI(M) leader Isaac said the decision to elect Vijayan as the legislature party leader was taken by the party’s state committee after discussions.
“It is not a decision imposed from above. It has been taken by the party’s state committee. There is no High Command,” he said.
There has been criticism over selecting Vijayan to the post, considering his age and defeat in the election fought under his leadership.
Isaac said criticism within the party following the electoral defeat was natural.
“We have decided to examine them in detail. There is nothing surprising in it,” he said.
Former minister Saji Cherian said Vijayan is among the state's senior-most leaders.
“He contested and won the election to lead the state. We want the senior-most leader to lead us in the Assembly,” Cherian said.
He said the electorate may have voted the LDF out of power, seeking a change, but the front still retained significant support.
“We are not weak. Around 37.5 per cent of people voted for us. People have supported us, and we will come back,” he said.
Cherian added that the LDF had returned to power even after similar defeats in the past.
“If there were any lapses in governance or politics during the last 10 years, we will rectify them. Our comrades and we are fully confident,” he said.
Vijayan has been elected as the CPI(M) legislature party leader and is expected to become the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly.
The CPI(M)-led LDF suffered a major setback in the Assembly election, winning 25 out of 140 seats.
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Andhra CM Naidu promises cash incentives for third, fourth child
Narasannapeta (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced incentives of Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth, as part of efforts to reverse the state’s declining population trend.
Addressing a public meeting at Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district, Naidu said he had taken the decision and would announce further details within a month.
“I have made a new decision. We will provide Rs 30,000 immediately after the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child. Isn’t this the right decision?” Naidu said on the sidelines of the SwarnaAndhra SwachAndhra cleanliness programme.
Although he had once advocated population control measures, the CM said the time had now come for society to work together to increase the birth rate.
Naidu’s latest announcement follows an earlier proposal to provide a Rs 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child.
On March 5, he informed the Assembly that the state government was considering an incentive of Rs 25,000 for couples having a second child.
However, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav told PTI on Saturday that the government had decided to extend the incentives to families having a third child and beyond.
According to Naidu, rising incomes are leading some couples to opt for a single child, while others are choosing a second child only if their firstborn is a girl.
As a result, he warned that the state’s population growth rate is declining and stressed the importance of maintaining the replacement-level total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1.
He noted that a population remains stable only when the fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman.
He emphasised that declining populations and ageing societies in several countries have adversely affected their economies.
Rejecting the notion that children are a burden, Naidu argued that they are an asset and vowed to demonstrate it.
Referring to the Talliki Vandanam welfare scheme, which provides Rs 15,000 per school-going child per annum, Naidu said he would increase the amount “if God shows mercy”.
He said the government is printing tamper-proof pattadar passbooks (land documents) and assured that there would be “no land disputes” by March 2027.
The TDP supremo promised to develop the Srikakulam district through infrastructure projects and the completion of irrigation works.
Giving project timelines, Naidu said the government would complete the Madduvalasa Stage–II project by January 2027, the Hiramandalam Lift Irrigation Project by April 2027, and the Thotapalli distributaries by July 2027, among others.
After the formation of the TDP-led NDA government, he said that 86 lakh tonnes of legacy waste had been cleared and promised 100 per cent clearance by June.
Further, the CM urged people to follow PM Narendra Modi’s guidelines to address economic challenges arising from the US–Israel–Iran conflict.
Naidu advised people to work from home as much as possible, reduce gold purchases, explore domestic tourism, use public transport, and take similar steps to support the economy and cooperate with the government.
