BJP’s K Surendran accuses Kerala govt of inflating Wayanad relief funds, calls for CM’s resignation

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], September 16 (ANI): Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief K Surendran on Monday accused the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government of presenting inflated relief expenditures to the High Court in connection with the Wayanad landslides.

In a post on X, Surendran further alleged that the state government had exploited the tragedy for its own benefit.

“The inflated relief spending presented by the state disaster management authority in the Kerala High Court for the Wayanad landslides reeks of corruption and misappropriation. The Pinarayi Vijayan government has shamelessly turned this disaster into a corrupt money-grabbing scheme,” he said.

“While the people of Kerala selflessly rallied to help the Wayanad landslide victims, the CPM-led LDF government focused on how to exploit the tragedy for its own gain. The entire state now sees their inhumane, greed-driven agenda,” the BJP leader added.

He also called for Chief Minister Vijayan’s immediate resignation.

“Kerala has never witnessed such heartless governance. If Pinarayi had even a shred of integrity left, he would resign immediately,” Surendran stated.

Earlier in July, K Surendran claimed that the landslide disaster in Wayanad, which could have been prevented, occurred because the Kerala government, led by Chief Minister Vijayan, ignored warnings from the central government.

“The recent landslide tragedy in Wayanad, which claimed over 150 lives, could have been prevented. Despite repeated warnings from the central government on July 23, 24, 25, and even 26 about severe weather and potential landslides, the Kerala government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, ignored these alerts. Instead of addressing their failures, the Left and Congress are now indulging in political drama in Parliament,” Surendran said in a post on X.

Landslides that killed hundreds of people in Wayanad were triggered by torrential rainfall, which was made about 10 percent heavier due to human-induced climate change, a study by World Weather Attribution (WWA) found.