Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar at Kerala House in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 12. Kerala’s special representative in the national capital, KV Thomas, was also present. The state government described the meeting as informal.
The interaction comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between the Left Democratic Front (LDF)-led Kerala government and the BJP-led Centre over issues such as disaster relief funds for Wayanad and the allocation of central financial assistance to the state.
Following the meeting, Pinarayi stated on X, “Had a warm interaction with Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs @nsitharaman, in the presence of @KeralaGovernor, at Kerala House in New Delhi. Kerala’s Special Representative in Delhi, Prof. KV Thomas, also attended the meeting.”
Sitharaman’s visit follows Arlekar’s assurance to Pinarayi on Tuesday that he would advocate for Kerala’s concerns with the Union government. Both the Governor and the Chief Minister emphasized their commitment to ensuring the state receives its due share of central funds. The meeting is also seen as an attempt to bridge the gap between the state and the Centre, which have frequently clashed over financial policies, borrowing limits, and discontinued GST compensation.
The Finance Minister’s office also issued a statement on X: “Smt @nsitharaman interacts with Hon'ble @KeralaGovernor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Shri @pinarayivijayan, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala, and Shri KV Thomas, former Union Minister and Special Representative of Kerala Govt in New Delhi, at Kerala House, New Delhi.”
Governor Arlekar, during a prior meeting on March 11 with Vijayan and Kerala MPs, reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for the state’s needs. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the Governor acknowledged Kerala’s financial challenges and stressed the need for collaborative efforts to address them without political bias.
Welcoming the Governor’s stance, Vijayan termed it a “new beginning,” expressing optimism about improved coordination between the state and central leadership.
This marks the first time such a meeting has been convened under the Governor’s leadership, signaling a potential shift in Centre-state relations amid ongoing fiscal negotiations.