Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Kerala Finance Minister Accused of Misleading Public
Former Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal has accused the current Chief Minister V D Satheesan and the UDF government of misleading the public about the state's finances.
Balagopal claims that the Accountant General’s figures for the first quarter of the current financial year show strong revenue growth, contradicting the UDF’s White Paper on the economy.
He argues that the UDF’s claims of poor revenue growth are baseless and that the previous LDF government’s financial policies have led to increased revenue and investments in welfare schemes.
The UDF government, however, maintains that the financial figures presented by the LDF are incorrect and that curtailing infrastructure projects and welfare schemes is necessary due to poor revenue growth.
Former Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal accused the UDF government of misleading the public about the state’s finances.
The Accountant General’s figures for the first quarter showed strong revenue growth, contradicting the UDF’s White Paper.
Balagopal claims that the UDF’s arguments for curtailing welfare schemes are baseless.
The state’s revenue deficit has decreased to Rs 13,209 crore due to higher revenue receipts.
Investments in health and education have exceeded annual targets.
- Who
- Former Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal and Chief Minister V D Satheesan
- What
- Accusations of misleading the public about the state’s finances
- When
- July 20
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Why
- Discrepancies in financial figures presented by the UDF government and the Accountant General’s figures for the first quarter of the current financial year
LDF Government
UDF Government
Financial Performance
LDF Government
The LDF government claims that the strong revenue growth in the first quarter of the current financial year is a recognition of their financial approach and policies.
UDF Government
The UDF government argues that the financial figures presented by the LDF are incorrect and misleading, as per their White Paper on the economy.
Welfare and Development
LDF Government
The LDF government asserts that the first-quarter results show that welfare pensions for the poor and state development cannot be stopped due to low revenue growth.
UDF Government
The UDF government's White Paper suggests curtailing infrastructure projects, social security pensions, and other welfare schemes due to poor revenue growth.
- Accusation
- Former Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal accused Chief Minister V D Satheesan and the ruling UDF of misleading the public about the state’s finances.
- Figures Disputed
- The Accountant General’s figures for the first quarter of the current financial year showed strong growth in the state’s revenue receipts, contradicting the UDF government’s White Paper.
- Revenue Receipts
- Rs 33,311 crore, including Rs 28,060 crore in tax revenue, reached the state treasury during the first three months of the financial year.
- Capital Expenditure
- Capital expenditure on infrastructure development doubled from the previous year to Rs 7,179 crore.
- Revenue Deficit
- The state’s revenue deficit came down to Rs 13,209 crore due to higher revenue receipts.
- Structural Reforms
- Structural reforms in the GST department and IT-based measures introduced by the previous government led to a rise in revenue.
- Investments
- Investments in sectors such as health and education exceeded annual targets.