India, Jan. 21 -- The Budget session of the Kerala Assembly commenced on Tuesday with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar reading out the Left Government's policy address, which accused the Union Government of curtailing the State's finances and pushing it into "severe fiscal stress".

The policy address also criticised the Centre for intervening in subjects within States' domains, excessive centralisation of power, and leaving bills passed by State legislatures pending for long periods.

Arlekar said that despite Kerala's social and institutional achievements, the State continues to face "severe financial stress due to a series of adverse Union Government actions that undermine the constitutional principles of fiscal federalism." The "a...