Exciting news for Kerala as the Central government has approved the proposal to establish AIIMS at Kinalur in Kozhikode. However, this announcement has sparked a heated debate between Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who are rivals for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. The two leaders engaged in a public spat on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Tharoor criticized BJP’s misleading promises, while Chandrashekhar fired back, calling the Congress MP ‘smooth-talking, do-nothing, Lying types’.
This will mark the first AIIMS facility in Kerala.
Shashi Tharoor expressed his disappointment on X, emphasizing that no MP can guarantee the establishment of AIIMS in their preferred location. Despite his persistent efforts and advocacy for an AIIMS in Thiruvananthapuram, the Central Government accepted Kerala Government’s proposal to locate the AIIMS in Kozhikode.
Tharoor clarified, “I honestly informed voters that Kozhikode was the state government’s preference, and that was the only option presented to the Centre. Yesterday, Health Minister Veena George confirmed that the Central government has agreed to set up AIIMS at Kinalur in Kozhikode.”
Adding a jab towards his BJP rival, Tharoor criticized, “Shame on those BJP candidates who misled voters by promising otherwise!”
I stated during the election campaign that no MP can promise to set up an AIIMS in any location of his choice – it depends on what the state government proposes and the central government agrees to. Despite my best efforts, and intensive lobbying for an AIIMS in my constituency,…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 30, 2024
In response, BJP leader Rajeev Chandrashekhar labeled Tharoor as ‘smooth-talking, do-nothing, Lying types’.
Chandrashekhar continued the attack on Tharoor, highlighting the Congress MP’s long tenure without fulfilling promises and his defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Chandrashekhar promised to surpass Tharoor’s performance if given the opportunity.
Chandrashekhar further criticized Tharoor’s track record, stating, “This Cong MP who has represented Thiruvananthapuram for 15 yrs and has kept none of his promises – from making Barcelona, High court bench etc. etc (list is embarrassingly long), is talking today (almost in relief) that Kozhikode is getting an AIIMS – that wouldn’t have been the case if a BJP/NDA MP had represented & fought for TVM – which I will.”
Asserting his commitment to Thiruvananthapuram, Chandrashekhar declared, “Reality that @BJP4Keralam, PM @narendramodi ji & I will do more for ALL people of Thiruvananthapuram in the next 5 years than the smooth-talking, do-nothing, Lying types who have squatted there for so many years.”
In anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, the NDA candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram seat, vowed to prioritize bringing AIIMS to the constituency if elected.
