Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], April 3 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday launched a riposte against Revanth Reddy's recent 'disparaging remarks' against Kerala, terming them as 'entirely baseless' and suggested that the Telangana Chief Minister should focus on his own state's shortcomings in poverty and literacy instead of 'preaching' to Kerala.Taking to social media platforms, X and Facebook, Vijayan said it was ironic that a leader who 'runs bulldozers over the homes of the poor' is questioning Kerala's social progress.'Telangana CM Shri Revanth Reddy's recent disparaging remarks about Kerala are entirely baseless. It is ironic that someone who runs bulldozers over the homes of the poor in his own state is trying to preach to Kerala about social progress. He has simply become a mouthpiece for those trying to sabotage our sustainable and inclusive development model,' Vijayan said.Responding to Reddy's allegations of 'corruption and misgovernance,' the Kerala Chief Minsiter M cited official NITI Aayog data to highlight the disparity between the two states.'Before alleging 'corruption and misgovernance' in Kerala, he should check official data. Has he not noticed that Kerala is the least corrupt state in India? In the NITI Aayog SDG Index (2023-24), Kerala stands tall at the 1st position with 79 points, while Telangana is at 6th. Ridiculing Kerala to hide your own state's shortcomings is highly regrettable,' Vijayan stated.Vijayan further compared the poverty and literacy rates between the two states and noted that Kerala was on the verge of eradicating extreme poverty.'Per NITI Aayog, Kerala's poverty rate is just 0.55%, the lowest in India. By late 2025, Kerala is set to become the first state in the country to completely eradicate extreme poverty. Meanwhile, Telangana's poverty rate is 5.88%. Has the government there decided not to uplift its poorest? While Kerala leads with a 95.3% literacy rate, Telangana still lags at 76.9%,' Vijayan added.The Kerala CM also questioned the Telangana government's spending on political advertisements in Kerala and compared the health infrastructure of the two states, specifically the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).'Instead of spending crores on political ads in Kerala to indirectly help the Congress, shouldn't he focus on eradicating poverty and improving literacy back home? Kerala's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is down to 5 -- better than even the US at 5.6. In Telangana, the IMR is nearly four times higher! Because of our robust public health system, a Malayali lives 5-7 years longer than the average Indian,' he claimed.Pointing out an alleged 'hypocrisy' in Reddy's stance, Vijayan mentioned that Telangana officials recently visited Kerala to study its digital land record system.'Just recently, on Sept 16, 2025, a high-level team of Revenue & Survey officials from Telangana visited Thiruvananthapuram to study Kerala's proud digital land record system, 'Ente Bhoomi' (ILIMS). How hypocritical is it for the CM to publicly mock the very same Kerala governance model his own government is trying to emulate?' he asked.The Kerala CM dismissed Reddy's claims of a 'nexus' between the Kerala and Union governments, calling the Congress the 'true B-team' of the BJP.'His claim of a 'nexus' between the Kerala and Union Govts is absurd. It is the spineless Congress that acts as the BJP's true B-team, failing to utter a single word against the Centre's financial blockade and borrowing limit cuts that choke Kerala's development. Did he miss Kerala's fierce protests against this neglect? Or is he just defending his party's betrayal of our state?' Vijayan stated.Concluding his rebuttal, Vijayan criticised the Telangana government's financial management and invited Reddy to Kerala to learn 'true lessons of governance and people's welfare.''A Chief Minister leading a government that repeatedly delays salaries and pensions has nothing to teach Kerala. The UDF era of closed treasuries and welfare pensions kept pending for months is a thing of the past. We humbly welcome the Telangana CM to Kerala to learn the true lessons of governance and people's welfare,' he said.Earlier on Thursday, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, while releasing the United Democratic Front (UDF) manifesto for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections in Kochi, had claimed that the 'dark era' of the Vijayan government was ending and a 'golden era' under the UDF was set to begin.

Addressing the gathering, Reddy asserted that a transformative change, similar to what Telangana has been witnessing since 2023, is poised to take place in Kerala soon. The CM exuded confidence that Keralam people would oust the Pinarayi Vijayan government from power.

Responding to questions from reporters, Reddy used a popular line 'Po Mone Vijaya' (Go away, Vijayan) from superstar Mohanlal-starrer film Narasimham and clarified that Vijayan is a political adversary.

In a pointed remark targeting both the Centre and the Kerala government, the Telangana CM also said that India and Kerala were currently being ruled by the 'Modi Brothers.'

Meanwhile, polling for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections will be held on April 9, with the counting of votes on May 4. The tenure of the current assembly is set to conclude on May 23. (ANI)