Politics
Jayarajan Criticizes UDF for Targeting KIIFB Land Acquisition Probe in Kannur
M.V. Jayarajan, a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), accused the Congress‑led UDF government in Kerala of using a vigilance investigation into land acquisition for Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB) projects to stall development, especially in Kannur. He said the government order dated 30 October 2026 targeted land acquisition in Kannur selectively, even though similar procedures had been followed in Palakkad under the same central legislation. Speaking to reporters in Kannur on Sunday, Jayarajan claimed that the government was undermining development projects worth nearly ₹60,000 crore that had received administrative approval, been tendered or were under construction through KIIFB. He noted that projects worth more than ₹40,000 crore had already been completed, including roads, bridges, school buildings, hospitals and government offices. The Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption Bureau has been directed to investigate the procedures used to acquire 4,896 acres in Kannur at a cost of about ₹12,240 crore. The government order also refers to the acquisition of 470 acres in Palakkad, bringing the total to 5,366 acres and an estimated expenditure of ₹12,710 crore. Jayarajan questioned why the investigation was specifically directed at Kannur and why a special team had been constituted. He pointed out that Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar had informed the Assembly on 29 October that the land in Kannur and Palakkad had been acquired under the central land acquisition law enacted in 2013. The land was acquired by special tahsildars for KIIFB and KINFRA projects. According to the minister’s reply, the compensation value was initially fixed by an order dated 12 April 2022. A subsequent order allowed reductions of up to 80% from the basic value for land that had undergone physical changes, including areas previously subjected to quarrying. Jayarajan said landowners had challenged the valuation in court. Following judicial directions, a committee appointed by the district administration examined the land, and the court accepted its report. He said the vigilance inquiry was politically motivated and intended to weaken KIIFB, which finances infrastructure projects because the state treasury lacks sufficient funds for large‑scale development after meeting salary and pension commitments. Jayarajan warned that the investigation could jeopardise several proposed projects in Kannur, including a 1,000‑acre industrial park near Kannur International Airport, an education hub, and bridges and roads. He asked how the government intended to finance the remaining projects, noting that the Public Works Department alone had commitments of around ₹2,500 crore. He demanded clarity on alternative funding arrangements and the future of projects already approved and awarded to contractors. Jayarajan alleged that several Congress leaders had received compensation for acquired land and challenged them to clarify their position on the acquisition and to say whether they would return the compensation if they believed the process was improper. He maintained that the KIIFB investigation was not merely a political dispute between the LDF and the UDF but a question concerning Kerala’s development. He urged the government to reconsider its decision and support ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects.