Thiruvananthapuram, June 18: A significant moment in Kerala’s political and financial history is set to unfold on Friday when Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan presents his first budget in the assembly. This budget is not just a financial document; it symbolizes a crucial milestone in his long political journey.
V.D. Satheesan, who has never held a ministerial position before, will now present the state’s 79th budget in his role as Finance Minister. This budget comes at a time when Kerala is grappling with a staggering public debt of nearly five lakh crore rupees and severe financial pressures.
For Satheesan, this opportunity marks the culmination of a long political wait. In 2011, when the United Democratic Front (UDF) returned to power under Oommen Chandy’s leadership, many Congress leaders and workers hoped Satheesan would secure a place in the cabinet.
Recognized as an influential speaker in the assembly with a deep understanding of policy issues, he was surprisingly not included in Chandy’s cabinet. This decision shocked many within the party. Since 2001, Satheesan has been a strong voice for the UDF in the assembly, but he had to wait longer for his moment.
Last month, after UDF’s impressive victory, Satheesan acknowledged at Chandy’s residence that he had always wished to be part of the cabinet, a dream that never materialized.
However, politics took him on a different path. After the Congress’s defeat in 2021, he was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition. His aggressive stance, organizational changes, and consistent attacks on the Left government revitalized the UDF, paving the way for their return to power.
Although Satheesan lacks prior ministerial experience, he is regarded as a leader with a solid grasp of economic and administrative matters. His understanding of policy issues has been a topic of discussion in political circles for some time.
Now, his biggest challenge will be to balance the expectations of public welfare with the state’s financial realities. With rising debt and limited financial resources, all eyes will be on whether he can present a budget that not only provides relief to the common people but also sets a new direction for the state’s economic development.
This budget also holds symbolic political significance. Having been denied a cabinet position in 2011, Satheesan will now present a budget that will determine the state’s economic direction as Chief Minister and Finance Minister, a historic achievement in his political journey.
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