Kerala ministers clash over proposed AIIMS location

A political dispute has emerged in Kerala regarding the location of a long-awaited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Union Minister Suresh Gopi, the BJP's first Lok Sabha winner from the state and MP for Thrissur, is advocating for Thrissur to be the site for the institute.

State Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has countered this position, stating that the state government remains open to various locations and has not insisted on any specific district. Muraleedharan characterized Gopi's stance as political, challenging the Union Minister to identify specific available land.

The demand for an AIIMS in Kerala has been a recurring issue for over a decade, dating back to 2014. While the central government previously requested suitable sites, the project has remained unfulfilled as other regions in India have received new AIIMS institutions. The debate resurfaces annually as the state seeks inclusion of the project in the Union Budget.