THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday. He will be leaving the state on Monday evening.
The chief minister’s office informed the media that chief secretary V P Joy will accompany Vijayan on his first trip to New Delhi after the Covid-19 pandemic began. The meeting with the Prime Minister is scheduled at 4pm. Vijayan has also sought the appointment of a few other ministers.
The main agenda of his Delhi visit is to seek more financial support to the state in view of the pandemic. Besides a special relief package, the state is also expected to seek more vaccines as the second wave has not yet subsided here.
Vijayan will also present the LDF government’s biggest infrastructure project, the Kerala Silverline Project, to Modi and seek central support. The semi-high speed railway project, planned as a joint venture between the state government and the Union railway ministry, is estimated to cost Rs 63,940 crore.
Lakshadweep, GST issues likely to be part of talks
The chief minister will also raise his government’s concerns over the newly created cooperation ministry. Political leaders in the state have alleged that the Union government decision to create the ministry violated federal principles. The state is also expected to raise the delay in disbursing the GST compensation in the talks.
The Lakshadweep issue is also likely to come up in discussions with the Prime Minister. The state will present its concerns on the UT administration’s alleged moves to sever ties with Kerala.
