Overview
- Kerala’s legislature on February 5 passed a resolution asking the Centre to withdraw the VB-G RAM G law and bring back MGNREGA, a day after Karnataka’s Assembly and Council approved a similar motion.
- The VB-G RAM G Act, which received Presidential assent on December 21, replaces MGNREGA by raising guaranteed work to 125 days while requiring states to shoulder 40% of specified costs and enabling the Centre to set normative allocations.
- Karnataka’s vote followed raucous proceedings featuring BJP and JD(S) walkouts and an overnight protest tied to excise graft allegations, before the resolution passed by voice vote and the legislature adjourned sine die.
- Karnataka’s Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge argued the Union Budget cannot fund the promise of 125 days, estimating ₹3.83 lakh crore would be needed nationwide versus ₹95,000 crore allocated, and said the state would explore legal remedies.
- Kerala warned of an estimated ₹3,500 crore extra burden and potential exclusion of many panchayats under new categorisation rules, as non-BJP-ruled southern states including Tamil Nadu and Telangana continue coordinated pushback.