BJP slams Kerala alcohol tax cut as 'darkest spot in Congress history'
Synopsis
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi has called Kerala's Budget proposal to slash excise duty on low-alcohol liquor from 251% to 121% the 'darkest spot in Congress history' — weaving it into a sweeping indictment of Congress's record on national interest, and directly challenging Rahul Gandhi on his vision for India's youth.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on 26 June condemned the Kerala UDF government's Budget proposal to cut excise duty on low-alcohol beverages.
The proposed cut reduces excise duty from 251 per cent to 121 per cent — more than halving the tax rate.
Kerala Minister Ramesh Chennithala had previously acknowledged drug abuse as an 'extremely challenging issue' in the state.
Trivedi accused both the LDF and UDF governments of serving liquor industry interests at the expense of Kerala's youth.
The BJP MP directed pointed questions at Rahul Gandhi , challenging him to explain the policy's impact on young people.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Friday, 26 June launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala, condemning its Budget proposal to slash excise duty on low-alcohol beverages as the 'darkest spot in the history of Congress surrendering the country's national interests.'
What Trivedi Said
Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Trivedi drew a sweeping historical parallel, linking the Kerala Budget decision to what he described as a long pattern of Congress capitulations. 'After remembering the darkest hour of Indian democracy yesterday, remembrance of Emergency, today is another black spot in the entire history of or rather in the entire calendar of Congress surrender, which started from surrendering to Muslim League leading to Pakistan's creation in 1947, then surrendering PoK to Pakistan, followed by the surrender of Aksai Chin to China,' he said.
He further alleged that the previous Congress-led Centre had 'almost surrendered Assam to China,' and cited what he called the Congress government's ceding of Mansarovar to China on 26 June 1974 and the handover of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka as additional examples. 'None of the stakeholders were taken into confidence,' Trivedi added.
The Kerala Budget Decision
At the centre of the BJP's criticism is the Kerala government's proposal to reduce excise duty on low-alcohol liquor from 251 per cent to 121 per cent — effectively cutting the tax by more than half. Trivedi characterised the move as 'highly shameful,' arguing that it would primarily benefit liquor traders while drawing the state's youth toward alcohol consumption.
Notably, Trivedi pointed to a statement by Kerala Minister Ramesh Chennithala acknowledging that drug abuse has become an 'extremely challenging issue' in the state, and questioned the logic of reducing excise duty at precisely such a juncture. 'What is the logic of reducing the excise duty, reducing the government revenue?' he asked.
Attack on Rahul Gandhi
The BJP MP directed pointed questions at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, asking: 'We want to ask him about his plans for the country's youth? Is it to intoxicate the state's youth, fill money into the pockets of your friends who are in the liquor business and consequently mess with Kerala's future?'
Trivedi accused the Congress of seeking to 'entrap the young generation into liquor,' framing the tax reduction as a policy that serves private interests over public welfare.
LDF and UDF: 'Two Sides of the Same Coin'
Broadening his criticism, Trivedi also targeted the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, calling both the LDF and the current UDF 'two sides of the same coin.' He alleged that it was the Communist-led LDF that originally created the low-alcohol liquor category to expand its sale and benefit associates. 'Today, the Congress has reduced the excise duty on the same category of liquor, thereby committing the mistake of encouraging alcohol consumption among Kerala's youth,' he stated.
The Kerala government is yet to formally respond to the BJP's criticism. With the state's Budget still under legislative scrutiny, the political battle over the excise duty proposal is likely to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
Which makes the timing of a tax reduction genuinely worth questioning. But by linking it to Katchatheevu and Aksai Chin, the BJP risks diluting a legitimate governance concern into electoral theatre. The harder question — whether reduced alcohol taxes actually increase consumption among youth or simply shift demand from illicit to regulated channels — is absent from both sides of this debate.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kerala alcohol tax cut that the BJP is criticising?
The Kerala UDF government's Budget proposed reducing excise duty on low-alcohol content liquor from 251 per cent to 121 per cent, cutting the tax by more than half. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi has called this decision 'highly shameful' and argued it will benefit liquor traders while harming the state's youth.
Who is Sudhanshu Trivedi and why did he criticise the Kerala government?
Sudhanshu Trivedi is a BJP MP who addressed reporters in New Delhi on 26 June, attacking the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala over its Budget proposal. He argued the excise duty cut contradicts Kerala's own acknowledgement of a worsening drug and alcohol problem in the state.
What did Trivedi say about Rahul Gandhi?
Trivedi directly questioned Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, asking whether his plan for India's youth was to 'intoxicate' them and benefit liquor business associates. The BJP MP framed the Kerala Budget decision as emblematic of Congress priorities.
How did Trivedi connect the Kerala decision to Congress's historical record?
Trivedi drew a sweeping parallel between the Kerala excise cut and what he described as a long pattern of Congress surrenders, citing the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the loss of PoK and Aksai Chin, and the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. He called the Kerala decision another entry in this 'calendar of Congress surrender.'
What was the LDF's role in this controversy, according to the BJP?
Trivedi alleged that the previous Communist-led LDF government originally created the low-alcohol liquor category to expand its sale and benefit associates. He called both LDF and UDF 'two sides of the same coin,' arguing the Congress has now deepened the same policy by cutting the excise duty on that category.
