Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s decision to stop door-step in-person disbursal of social welfare pension to beneficiaries and channel the monthly payment of ₹2,000 through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts has run into strong political headwinds. The CPI(M) has cried foul and announced a large-scale mobilisation of pension beneficiaries and their families, cutting across political lines, against the UDF government’s move. Mr Balagopal said 25 lakh of the social welfare pension assignees had earlier opted for DBT through banks. Mr Balagopal said the UDF government’s decision would compel senior citizens ill-acquainted with the newly mandated process to depend on others who might be “exploitative.” Mr Balagopal said the UDF government had come to power promising the electorate an enhanced social welfare pension with an estimated monthly payment of ₹2,500.