Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday announced in the state assembly that the state is now free of extreme poverty. The declaration came during a special session convened to mark Kerala Piravi, the anniversary of the state’s formation.

The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) rejected the claim outright, describing it as “pure fraud,” and boycotted the proceedings in protest.

As the session began, Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of violating assembly procedure by making the statement under Rule 300, calling it “in contempt” of the House. “We cannot join in that and are completely boycotting the session,” he said, before leading a walkout amid slogans condemning the government’s declaration as “fraud” and “shameful.”

Responding to the criticism, Chief Minister Vijayan said the opposition’s reaction was a reflection of their own conduct and added that the state’s efforts to eradicate extreme poverty were based on verified data and sustained welfare measures.

The special session continued without the opposition benches, as the government highlighted what it called a milestone in Kerala’s social development journey.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally