Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said that the policy decision regarding taxation of low‑spirit liquor will be taken by the United Democratic Front (UDF).

He was responding to media queries on the sidelines of a function in Kochi on Thursday when asked about objections raised by senior leaders such as V.M. Sudheeran against the proposed move to offer tax cuts on low-spirit liquor. Mr. Chennithala said that policy matters of the UDF government would be decided after discussions within the UDF. He, however, clarified that there was no move to close down bars.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan had pointed out in the Assembly on Wednesday how the previous LDF government had increased the number of bars from just 28 to over 900 despite professing a policy to restrict liquor availability.

Mr. Chennithala also said there was no proposal in the revised State Budget for private investment in mineral mining and wondered who was behind such a narrative. He noted that the Central government, in a 2025 order, had explicitly banned beach sand mining in the private sector.

He further condemned the alleged use of blades during a protest by SFI activists in Thiruvananthapuram. “Directions have been issued to identify those who brought blades to the protest. The police need not carry blades since they are equipped with lathis and even guns. Attacking police with blades is totally unacceptable, as they too are human beings. Those responsible for such a deplorable act will be brought before the law,” he said.