Kerala Assembly Dispute Over Governor's Alterations to Policy Address

Kerala's Budget session saw a dispute after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar omitted and altered parts of the Cabinet-approved policy address, particularly sections critical of the Union government's fiscal policies and pending state bills. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan read out the omitted portions, urging the Assembly to accept the original text. The Governor's office defended the changes, citing factual inaccuracies and half-truths in the original speech. Opposition leaders criticized the policy address for false claims and economic shortcomings, while some political figures described the controversy as electoral theatrics amid upcoming elections.