Maduranthakam/Thiruvananthapuram: Minister Nar-endra Modi on Friday launched the Pendra PM SVANidhi Credit Card in Thiruvananthapuram, calling it a landmark step in financial inclusion and empowerment of street vendors, while unveiling a slew of development projects and mounting a sharp political attack on the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), and the DMK. Addressing a large public gathering after flagging of four new trains, including three Amrit Bharat Express services, the Prime Minister said access to formal credit had expanded dramatically with facilities once limited to the wealthy now reaching street vendors, cart owners and footpath hawkers. He said 10,000 vendors from Kerala, including over 600 from Thiruvananthapuram, received credit cards under the PM SVANidhi scheme at the event.
Recalling the hardships faced by vendors earlier, PM Modi said many were forced to borrow small sums at exorbitant interest rates. He said lakhs across the country had since benefited from the scheme, with millions receiving bank loans for the first time. The Centre, he added, had become a guarantor for those without collateral, ensuring easier access to credit for the poor, SCs, STs, OBCs, women and fishermen.
Highlighting the Centre’s broader welfare and urban development push, the Prime Minister said over four crore houses had been built nationwide under the PM Awas Yojana, including more than one crore for the urban poor. In Kerala alone, nearly 1.25 lakh urban poor families had received permanent homes. He also flagged free treatment up to ₹5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat, benefits under the Matru Vandana Yojana, and income tax relief for those earning up to ₹12 lakh annually.
PM Modi said Kerala’s rail connectivity had received fresh momentum and that efforts were underway to develop Thiruvananthapuram into a major startup hub. He also cited investments in science, innovation and healthcare, including the inauguration of CSIR facilities and the launch of a radiosurgery centre at a medical college.
Politically, the Prime Minister hailed the BJP’s recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation as historic, calling it the party’s foundation stone in Kerala and a signal of change after decades of alleged neglect by the LDF and UDF. He accused both fronts of corruption, mismanagement and appeasement politics, saying they differed in symbols but not in approach. Thiruvananthapuram, he said, would now be developed as a model city for the country.
Turning his attack on the Congress, PM Modi said the party lacked a developmental agenda and accused it of adopting positions “more extreme than the Maoists and more communal than the Muslim League”. He presented the BJP-NDA as the third alternative focused on development and good governance ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Prime Minister also targeted the LDF government over the Sabarimala temple controversy, alleging damage to traditions and promising a full investigation into the alleged gold theft case if the BJP comes to power. He further alleged that corruption under the LDF had harmed Kerala’s development and affected bank savings, citing the cooperative bank scam.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi flagged off Amrit Bharat Express trains on the Nagercoil–Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram and Thiruvananthapuram–Charlapalli routes, along with a new passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur, and inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple development projects in the state capital.
During his visit, the Prime Minister also met seers of the Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, praising their contributions to social service, education and spiritual life inspired by the ideals of Sree Narayana Guru. He later interacted with representatives of the fishing community, reiterating the NDA government’s focus on fishermen’s welfare through improved market access, technology, insurance cover and financial support under schemes such as PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar were present at the main event, which PM Modi concluded by congratulating the people of Kerala and reiterating his commitment to development and good governance.
