The lack of criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government in the Governor’s policy address presented in the Kerala Assembly, contrary to the trend in recent years, kicked up a controversy on Friday with the Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan alleging that the policy address was silent on “what should have been said about the Union government” due to political subservience to the BJP.He said that such approaches indicate “servility to communal politics” and would result in Kerala losing what is eligible to it. It lacked any mention of either the Central policies that threaten fiscal federalism or the latter’s financial policies. The policy speech also remains silent on the Union government’s decision to introduce the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) and the UDF government’s stand on the issue, he said.Responding to questions at a press conference, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said that the State government will criticise the Union government when the time comes.“Why should we criticise right at the beginning? We will examine the reasons for the Centre not releasing funds, whether it is due to the failure of the State government in submitting utility certificates or any other factors. We are studying all these properly,” he said.In recent years, there have been instances of the Governor omitting portions of the policy address critical of the Union government. Earlier this year, during the LDF’s term, the Governor omitted references to severe fiscal stress faced by Kerala arising from a series of adverse Union government actions that undermine the constitutional principles of fiscal federalism as well as the issue of pendency of Bills passed by the Assembly. Mr. Vijayan, the then CM, had later read these out in the Assembly. The CPI has taken strong exception to the Governor’s policy address, terming it an attempt to mollify the Governor and compromise with a hostile Centre.Senior CPI leader K. Rajan, MLA, said the policy address contained no policy for the benefit of the common man.He questioned the UDF government for meekly accepting the Centre’s alleged financial stifling of the State and the Governor’s prolonged inaction on many laws designed to serve ordinary people. Published - May 29, 2026 08:46 pm IST