Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Keralam Health Minister Muraleedharan in verbal duel over AIIMS
Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan are in a public dispute over the location and establishment of an AIIMS in Kerala. The two leaders disagree on the appropriate district and the political motivations behind the project's delay.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the friction between central and state governments regarding the implementation of major infrastructure projects.
Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi and Keralam Health Minister K. Muraleedharan on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) engaged in a verbal row over the establishment of an AIIMS in the State.
While Mr. Gopi dared Mr. Muraleedharan to sit and discuss the matter with him, the latter brushed aside the challenge, stating that he does not see the Union Minister as a politician.
The verbal duel began after Mr. Gopi was told by reporters in Kochi that Mr. Muraleedharan had allegedly said that the Union Minister was making statements about establishing an AIIMS without being aware of the entire facts. Irked by that, Mr. Gopi responded: ”ask him to come and sit with me on the issue if he has the courage for it.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in