UDF govt to announce new liquor policy by November: Keralam minister

Kerala's Legislative Assembly Speaker, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, defended the United Democratic Front (UDF) government's stance on the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) on Monday. Radhakrishnan stated that a new government coming to power might adopt policies that differ from the previous administration's.

The expert panel's recommendations to dissolve KIIFB's separate fund-raising and project-financing role brought into question the financial model supporting the state's infrastructure spending. In a report presented to the Kerala Assembly on Thursday, the committee led by retired IAS officer Sudha Pillai argued that KIIFB's original purpose of raising funds without tapping into the state's borrowing capacity had become obsolete, as its borrowings now count towards that limit.

On the same day, Chief Minister V D Satheesan alleged serious financial irregularities, rule violations, and significant financial liabilities on KIIFB's part. He characterized KIIFB as a "separate empire" and promised to review the expert panel's findings, which could lead to further action. The chief minister also accused the government of using large amounts of KIIFB funds in Kannur district for purchasing land at skyrocketing prices, much of which remains unused.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, criticized the current government's actions, questioning why KIIFB funds were being spent in Kannur—a district within Kerala. He accused the UDF administration of attempting to undermine development across the state.