Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stirred controversy by highlighting Kerala’s progress. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan has now hit back, presenting data to challenge the claims propagated by the state government. AICC General Secretary (Organization) K.C. Venugopal had a brief discussion withTharoor in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. The party high command has issued clear instructions to avoid further aggravation, fearing that both the Left and the BJP could capitalize on the controversy with local body elections around the corner, followed by assembly polls next year. The state tourism minister P. Mohammed Riyas took a swipe at the Congress, remarking, “The situation has come to a point where anyone who praises Kerala faces attacks from Congress leaders’” The Congress-led UDF initiated key infrastructure projects — the Kochi Metro, Vizhinjam Port, GAIL pipeline, and highway developments — despite strong opposition from Vijayan at the time. The World Bank discontinued this indicator in 2021 due to discrepancies.
