The nine years of Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule have brought positive changes to all sectors in the State, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

Addressing an LDF convention on Alappuzha beach on Tuesday, Mr. Vijayan said that 4.5 lakh houses had been constructed under the Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment (LIFE) Mission in the State. “The target is to construct five lakh houses under the LIFE Mission. We will achieve the target in the coming months,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the State had made significant strides in infrastructure development, including national highways, roads, bridges and so on. “The widening of National Highway 66 is making steady progress. The government has set aside Rs. 10,000 crore for the coastal highway and hill highway projects. The 600 km long Kovalam- Bekal waterway is also progressing steadily. In public education, the government has spent Rs. 5,000 crore,” he said.

Mr. Vijayan said the Centre had tried to choke Kerala financially and attempted to stall its development. “Along with the Centre, the Opposition United Democratic Front has taken an anti-Kerala stance. Despite this, the LDF government has been able to overcome difficulties and put the State on the path of development,” the Chief Minister said, adding that there have been attempts to portray the State’s economy as being in shambles, but data show that the State is moving forward.

Communist Party of India district secretary T. J Anjelose presided. Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] district secretary R. Nazar, Ministers- P. Prasad and Saji Cherian, CPI (M) Central Committee member C.S. Sujtaha and others attended.