Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday landed in Kerala, where he is set to launch various development and infrastructure projects.
The prime minister flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains and a Thrissur-Guruvayur passenger train in the state, besides laying the foundation stone for a CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub, and launching the PM SVANidhi Credit Card facility.
While the new trains will help enhance regional rail connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the credit card facility is being touted to be UPI-linked and interest-free, as per officials.
Under the PM SVANidhi scheme, PM Modi also disbursed loan amounts and credit cards to several beneficiaries. He laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in the city, and inaugurated the new Poojappura Head Post Office.
The prime minister had landed in Kerala at about 10.25 am, said airport sources. The BJP party in the state is said to have planned a grand welcome for the premier, which includes a road show.
PM Modi was received by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other dignitaries. This is his first visit to the poll-bound state after the BJP wrested control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation from the LDF, in the recent civic polls, which had been ruling the local body for 45 years.
Earlier, in a post on X, the PM had shared his agenda for the visit and listed his programmes scheduled during the day in Kerala.
“Looking forward to being among my sisters and brothers of Thiruvananthapuram today. Various development works will be launched from this great city. This includes: Launch of the PM SVANidhi Credit Card and disbursal of PM SVANidhi loans to 1 lakh beneficiaries.
Flagging off of three Amrit Bharat Express trains, which will boost Kerala’s connectivity. Laying the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram,” he said in the post.
Referring to the BJP’s victory in the corporation elections, PM Modi also said the city “scripted history by blessing us in the recently concluded corporation elections”.
“It’s clear Kerala is looking to break free from the fixed match of LDF and UDF,” he added.
The prime minister said on Friday that the people of Tamil Nadu, where he is due to visit next, have decided to bid farewell to the “corrupt” DMK government in the upcoming Assembly election to the state.
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“Tamil Nadu is with NDA. I’ll be joining NDA leaders at the rally in Maduranthakam later today. Tamil Nadu has decided that it’s time to bid farewell to the corrupt DMK government. The NDA’s governance record and commitment to regional aspirations are striking a chord with the people of the state,” he wrote in a post on X, ahead of his visit to Maduranthakam to kick-start the poll campaign for the NDA in Tamil Nadu.
His mega poll rally will include the presence of various NDA leaders, including the major constituent, AIADMK general secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami.
BJP Tamil Nadu election in-charge, Piyush Goyal, who is also India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, said in a post on X that PM Modi’s visit to the state “marks the beginning of the NDA’s election campaign in Tamil Nadu under the leadership and guidance of PM Modi ji and Thiru Edappadi K Palaniswami ji”.
“It is also the first step towards ending the DMK’s corruption-ridden government and ushering in good governance, opportunities and prosperity for every section. This time, NDA will shine in Tamil Nadu,” Goyal said.
Elaborate security arrangements are in place in Maduranthakam for the PM’s visit, including a helicopter landing area readied in the neighbouring Chengalpattu district to facilitate his chopper’s landing, a police official said.
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