Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac voiced concerns on Tuesday regarding the continuity of economic policies under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging against adherence to strategies that have historically led to stagnant employment growth and agrarian unrest.
In a statement, Isaac expressed apprehension over the potential perpetuation of policies that, according to him, have contributed to agricultural discontent, subdued consumer demand, reduced capital formation, and strained state fiscal autonomy. He emphasized the need for a possible shift towards moderation, albeit uncertain of any substantial changes.
Commenting on Sitharaman’s return as Finance Minister, Isaac lamented a perceived repetition of policies observed during the period from 2019 to 2024, predicting minimal positive impact for Kerala under the current economic framework.
Isaac, an economist-turned-politician, highlighted the opposition role of the Left, despite its limited representation in the Lok Sabha, as a counterforce against the government’s economic agenda. He further criticized alleged collaboration between Congress-led UDF MPs and the BJP, alleging detrimental effects on Kerala’s economic interests.
The veteran politician, who represented Alappuzha for four consecutive terms from 1996 to 2016, recently returned to academia following electoral defeat in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency in 2021.
Recent speculations regarding Isaac’s potential nomination to the Rajya Sabha were quashed on Monday when the CPI-M’s quota seat was allocated to another party leader, Jose K. Mani, due to prevailing political considerations.
