Thrissur (Kerala), April 5 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday criticised the LDF government in Kerala, accusing it of "damaging" the state's economy through indiscriminate borrowing.
Addressing party workers during a roadshow in Kodungallur as part of the NDA campaign ahead of the Assembly polls, she alleged that prolonged Communist rule had adversely impacted economic growth, citing the example of West Bengal.
"Thirty years of Communist rule in West Bengal destroyed the state's economy. The same thing is happening in Kerala as well," she claimed while seeking votes for NDA candidate Varghese George in the Kodungallur constituency.
Quoting figures from NITI Aayog, Sitharaman said Kerala's total borrowing had increased by up to 40 per cent compared to 2014 levels.
"Nobody knows what they are doing with this borrowed money. Nobody knows where it has gone. Who is going to repay this?" she asked, adding that the burden of the debt would fall on future generations.
She further alleged that, as the LDF government spends a significant portion of its revenue on debt repayment, little is left for the state's development.
Citing Central assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, she claimed that several beneficiaries in Kerala were yet to receive houses and questioned the utilisation of the funds.
Sitharaman also accused the CPI(M)-led government of failing to support individual enterprises, asserting that the state lacks a conducive environment for industries and investments.
"No industry will grow in the state as long as the Left government continues in power due to a lack of encouragement," she alleged.
"So, we don't want this LDF-UDF seesaw in Kerala anymore," Sitharaman added.
Kerala will go to the Assembly polls on April 9.