Wed Mar 12 06:29:25 UTC 2025: ## Finance Minister Sitharaman Meets Kerala Leaders in Delhi, Signaling Improved Relations

**New Delhi, March 12, 2025** – Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Kerala House in New Delhi today, marking a potential thaw in previously strained Centre-State relations. The meeting, which included breakfast and was also attended by Kerala’s special representative K.V. Thomas and Congress-led UDF MPs, follows Governor Arlekar’s assurance to Chief Minister Vijayan that he would advocate for Kerala’s interests with the central government.

The discussions reportedly covered several points of contention, including federal funding for Wayanad rehabilitation, state borrowing limits, the discontinuation of GST compensation, and the central government’s stance on honorariums for ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists). The presence of both LDF and UDF MPs underscored a united front from Kerala’s political representatives in seeking central support. The meeting is seen as a significant step towards resolving these ongoing disputes.

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