Kerala CM Satheesan to meet PM Modi in New Delhi today
New Delhi, May 26
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will hold his first official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in New Delhi, marking a politically significant engagement soon after assuming office.
This is Satheesan's first meeting with PM Modi after the United Democratic Front government came to power in Kerala.
Though details of the agenda have not been officially disclosed, the discussions are expected to focus on Kerala's immediate development priorities, central assistance and key state issues requiring Union government intervention.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, at 2.30 pm at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi.
Earlier on Saturday, Satheesan held back-to-back meetings with senior Congress leaders, signalling the party leadership's continued engagement with the new Kerala administration.
He first met Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal at around 9 a.m., followed by discussions with Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge.
Satheesan later met senior leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
During the interactions, he is learnt to have thanked the Congress high command for its support during the Assembly elections.
Organisational matters and the party's future political strategy were also discussed, according to sources.
Meanwhile, Satheesan's first visit to Delhi after becoming Chief Minister drew enthusiastic crowds at Kerala House, where students and supporters gathered late into the night to greet him.
The Chief Minister spent time interacting with visitors and posed for photographs, adding to the celebratory atmosphere surrounding his arrival in the national capital.
Satheesan led the Congress-led United Democratic Front to a stunning victory in the Assembly elections.
The UDF won 102 seats, while the Left was reduced to just 35 seats from 99. The BJP also reopened its account by winning three seats.
On May 18, Satheesan, along with 20 of his Cabinet colleagues, was sworn in.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The UDF victory margin is huge—102 seats! But let's see if this meeting actually translates into funds for Kerala's infrastructure or just photo ops. We've seen such meetings before.
Good to see a CM from a different party meeting PM without drama. Satheesan seems like a pragmatic leader. The state needs Centre's help for the Vizhinjam port and Sabarimala infrastructure. Let's hope something concrete comes out.
Meeting with Gandhi family first and then PM? That's classic political balancing. But honestly, Kerala's fiscal situation is dire—high debt, low GST collection. Satheesan needs to get the state's house in order before asking for help.
The scenes at Kerala House with students and supporters show the hope people have in this new government. But I hope Satheesan doesn't get bogged down by internal Congress politics—Kerala needs governance, not more factionalism.
BJP winning 3 seats in Kerala is a significant shift in the state's politics. Satheesan meeting Modi might also be a tacit acknowledgment that Centre-state cooperation is essential for Kerala's recovery post-COVID floods.
Let's see if the meeting goes beyond pleasantries.
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