Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 3 (NationPress) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has declared a statewide 'Black Day' for Tuesday in response to what it claims is the Central government's 'complete neglect' of Kerala in the Union Budget 2026-2027, according to sources within the party.

CPI-M members are set to hoist black flags at all polling stations, organize protests, and rally public sentiment against budget allocations that they believe ignore the state's persistent developmental requirements, they stated on Monday.

The irony is palpable as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose administration has historically banned black clothing at public functions, will witness party members, citizens, and activists wielding black flags as a symbolic act of protest.

From 2022 to 2025, protesters clad in black or holding black umbrellas at public gatherings featuring Vijayan were frequently removed or detained by law enforcement, mainly due to protests from the Youth Congress and Kerala Students' Union over various issues, including the gold smuggling scandal.

Interestingly, during the peak of Vijayan's opposition to the color black, several opposition legislators were seen wearing black shirts within the state Assembly.

On Tuesday, this very color will play a pivotal role in a CPI-M-led demonstration against the Central government.

Chief Minister Vijayan, CPI-M General Secretary M.A. Baby, and the party's State Secretary M.V. Govindan have voiced strong criticisms of the Union Budget, claiming that Kerala has been overlooked.

Chief Minister Vijayan pointed to the omission of key projects such as AIIMS, seven high-speed railway corridors, and the Vizhinjam port development initiative.

He further emphasized that the refusal to increase Kerala's Finance Commission share from 41 percent undermines federal principles and called for responses from Union Ministers representing the state.

M.A. Baby condemned the budget as a 'financial trap', highlighting a Rs 95,000 crore allocation for the VB-G RAM G scheme as a significant exploitation, and criticized the 60:40 Centre-state funding ratio as a threat to the financial security of states.

Govindan described the budget as a 'declaration of war' against Kerala and warned of large-scale protests on Tuesday.

Coincidentally, the Congress-led UDF, the opposition in the state Assembly, has also reacted sharply to the budget, indicating that while both ruling and opposition parties are united in their criticism, their ideologies remain distinct.

This open defiance towards the Central government is understandable, particularly as state Assembly elections are anticipated in the coming weeks, and the state BJP is riding high following their victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.