Newly sworn-in Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first official visit to the national capital after taking the reins of the Congress government.
The meeting marks an important early interaction between the newly-formed state government and the Centre.
“Chief Minister of Keralam, Shri @vdsatheesan met Prime Minister @narendramodi,” the PM’s Office said in a post on X.
Sources said a detailed memorandum seeking central support for several key development projects and financial packages for the state was handed over to the Centre. The discussions also focused on Kerala’s development priorities, central assistance and key state issues requiring cooperation with the Centre.
Though official details of the discussions were not disclosed, it is learnt that infrastructure development, financial assistance, pending railway and highway projects, disaster relief support and issues concerning Kerala’s overall fiscal position figured prominently during the talks.
During the nearly 20-minute meeting, the CM presented Modi a statuette of a Kathakali dancer, representing Kerala’s renowned classical dance-drama.
Satheesan also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman where development-related proposals were discussed, they said.
Sources said detailed memorandum seeking central support for several key development projects and financial packages for the state will be handed over to the central ministers.
The chief minister also met party colleague Shashi Tharoor.
“A wonderful hour-long conversation with Kerala Chief Minister today in Delhi. We discussed the way forward for our state’s development in extensive detail. He requested my help and policy advice in wide range of areas and I pledged my fullest cooperation to work with him to bring about a transformed Keralam. Since he is a tireless reader, I presented to him my most recent work on Sree Narayana Guru — he agreed with me that a book is always better than a bouquet!" Tharoor said in a post on X.
CM Satheesan is expected to hold separate meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday before returning to Thiruvananthapuram.
