Kerala Opposition Leader Demands Judicial Probe into Controversial Power Purchase Agreements

Thiruvananthapuram, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : Pinarayi Vijayan, the leader of the opposition in Kerala, has called for a judicial investigation into controversial power purchase agreements and the alleged corruption surrounding them. This demand, made on November 10, marks the first time Vijayan has sought a judicial probe into the power procurement issues that have become a significant political battleground between the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF).

In response to the cancellation of short-term power purchase agreements through the GNA Energy OTC platform, Vijayan argued that the state government’s decision validated the opposition’s stance that there was no real power crisis in Kerala. He accused the agreement of being part of a larger scandal, asserting that it was only after the opposition and media exposed alleged irregularities that the government was compelled to retract the deal.

Vijayan claimed that the agreement involved a private intermediary who neither generated electricity nor operated as a trader, leading to excessively high rates. He also alleged that the deal was finalized without addressing the objections raised by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and without adhering to proper tender procedures.

The former chief minister questioned the role of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in these decisions, suggesting that Electricity Minister Sany Joseph was kept in the dark about significant developments, including the cancellation of the agreement. This, he argued, raises serious questions about the functioning of the state cabinet and the principle of collective responsibility.

Additionally, Vijayan referenced a controversial case from October, where 200 megawatts of electricity were reportedly purchased from V.E.N. Global at a rate of ₹11 per unit. He alleged that this arrangement was orchestrated through the CMO without any tender being issued or approval from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC).

He questioned the beneficiaries of what he termed an “artificially created power crisis” and why the state had to bear the financial burden of purchasing expensive electricity. Vijayan also expressed skepticism about the necessity of proposed power purchases from Himachal Pradesh.

Demanding the public release of all documents related to these agreements, Vijayan insisted that the proposed judicial inquiry should investigate the roles of the Chief Minister and all individuals involved in these decisions. His call for transparency comes as the Kerala government, led by V.D. Satheesan, has decided to cancel the agreement linked to GNA amid rising questions about the terms of power procurement.