Mon Oct 27 07:19:24 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written in a journalistic style:
Headline: Kerala BJP President Dismisses LDF Poverty Eradication Claims, Credits Modi Government Schemes
Thiruvananthapuram, October 27, 2025 – Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has refuted the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s claims of eradicating extreme poverty in the state, labeling them as “mere propaganda.” At a press conference held today, Mr. Chandrasekhar asserted that the reduction in poverty levels in Kerala is primarily attributable to initiatives sponsored by the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chandrasekhar pointed out that Kerala already had low poverty levels in 2014, and criticized the state government for taking “over a decade” to eradicate the remaining 1.24% living in extreme poverty, at the cost of over ₹1,000 crore. He contrasted this with the Union government’s performance, claiming a reduction of extreme poverty in India from 16.2% to 2.3% during the same period, lifting an estimated 17 crore people out of poverty. In comparison, he said, only 2.72 lakh people were lifted from poverty in Kerala during this period.
Mr. Chandrasekhar specifically cited Union government schemes such as Pradhan Manthri Awaz Yojana, Pradhan Manthri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat as key contributors to poverty eradication efforts in Kerala. His statements have ignited a debate over the effectiveness and origins of poverty alleviation efforts in the state, with the LDF government yet to respond to the BJP’s claims.
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