Senior Communist Party of India (CPI) legislator and former Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil has accused the United Democratic Front (UDF) government of failing to take adequate measures to contain the rising prices of essential commodities in Kerala ahead of the Onam festival.

Kerala, being a consumer State, is dependent on distant producing States for foodgrains and other essential commodities. Under such circumstances, particularly when fuel prices are being increased frequently, the State should naturally be among the States facing the highest inflationary pressure.

“However, this has not been the situation during the past 10 years. Prices in the State had remained comparatively low, and in several years, was the lowest in the country. The previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) governments had carried out market interventions on several fronts and strengthened the public distribution system,” Mr. Anil said.

During the Onam season in August 2025, 15 kg of rice was provided to the non-priority non-subsidy (white card) category at the ration price of ₹10.90 per kg. The non-priority subsidy (blue card) category received an additional 10 kg of rice over and above its normal allocation at the same price. The priority household (pink card) category also received an additional 5 kg at ₹10.90 per kg, he said.

Reduced quantity

Mr. Anil alleged that this August, as Onam approaches, the UDF government has reduced the quantity of rice and increased the price. While the LDF government had provided 15 kg of rice to white-card holders during Onam 2025 at the ration price of ₹10.90 per kg, the present government was providing only 7 kg. The quantity for blue-card holders has been reduced from 10 kg last Onam to 3 kg. Pink-card holders, who received 5 kg previously, were not being given any special rice allocation this time, he said.

Such measures would reduce the availability of rice in the State and could lead to an increase in prices in the open market, the former Minister cautioned.

At the same time, he pointed out that rice was now being made available through ration shops at ₹26 per kg. Charging a higher price for commodities through ration shops was a wrong and new practice, he said.

During the 2025 Onam season, Supplyco outlets had made 20 kg of rice available per card, in addition to the regular ration allocation, at ₹25 per kg. Consumers had been allowed to choose between raw rice, red rice and parboiled rice, according to their preference. However, presently, all varieties of rice were being sold at ₹33 per kg, he said.

Coconut oil prices

Mr. Anil also compared the present situation with the measures taken by the LDF government to control coconut oil prices. When the price of coconut oil had risen to as much as ₹530 per kg, Supplyco outlets used to supply one litre of subsidised coconut oil at ₹339 and non-subsidised coconut oil at ₹389. This had forced other brands to reduce their prices as well, he said.

By ensuring an adequate supply of essential commodities during Onam, the LDF government completely prevented the possibility of a price rise, he claimed. He added that the government continued the same approach until the end of its term, even after Onam.

Published - August 13, 2026 07:36 pm IST