Puthupally Bypoll: Will Eliminate Poverty By 2025, Says Pinarayi Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while making his second round of campaign on Wednesday ahead of the Bypoll in Puthupally Constituency scheduled on September 5 tried to influence the voters by putting forward the list of work done by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

CM Vijayan while addressing the public meeting said, "We announced and disbursed ₹1000 as Onam allowance for NREGS workers both in rural and urban areas. We spent ₹46 crore to pay allowance to 1.5 lakh workers. This Onam, we allocated ₹25 crore as benefits for workers of the coir industry, ₹140 crore for workers of cash-starved KSRTC, ₹50 crore for cooks and helpers in government schools, ₹25 crores in the form of rubber subsidy, ₹43 crore for cashew board and ₹5.5 crores in the form of income support for employees of plantations and factories which have remained shut. We handed over free Onam ration kits to over 6 lakh beneficiaries. These are the kinds of interventions we have made across various sectors.".

Taking a dig at the opposition parties, the Kerala CM claimed that his government has made progress in the sectors of infrastructure development, national highway works, power, and industry modernisation.

"We are working on the hill highway project of 1189 km and cutting through 13 districts. The cost is ₹3500 crore and funded through KIIFB. We have completed 155 km so far and spent ₹1003 crore. For the 655-km long coastal highway which will run through nine districts, the cost is ₹6500 crore and there is a special rehabilitation package. Once realised, it will bring great progress in the state," he said while addressing the speech.

CM Vijayan also assured that his government will eliminate poverty from the state by November 1, 2025.

The Bypoll in Puthuppally, is scheduled to take place on September 5. The counting of votes will take place on September 8. The Puthupally Bypoll was decided after the sudden demise of sitting Congress MLA and former chief minister Oommen Chandy on July 18.