Pinarayi Vijayan Faces ED Summons, Making History in CPI(M)

Thiruvananthapuram, October 16 (Daily Kiran) : Senior CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, has made headlines once again, this time for a historic reason. He is the first member of the CPI(M) Politburo to be summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Vijayan has been asked to appear before ED officials regarding the ‘Masappadi’ (CMRL-Exlogic) case.

Vijayan’s political career is no stranger to records. He served as the state secretary of CPI(M) from 1998 to 2015 and held the office of Chief Minister from 2016 to 2026, completing two consecutive terms—something no other Kerala Chief Minister has achieved.

However, this ED summons adds a new and controversial layer to his political identity. The irony of the situation is hard to overlook, especially given CPI(M)’s long-standing stance against corruption and its commitment to holding those in power accountable.

In 2015, the party launched a vigorous campaign against then-Finance Minister K.M. Mani over the ‘bar bribery case.’ Following sharp remarks from a High Court judge, Mani was ultimately forced to resign. During the ‘solar scam’ controversy, Vijayan was one of the most vocal critics of then-Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, frequently calling for his resignation and using language that often crossed parliamentary decorum. Chandy was later acquitted of the allegations.

Now, all eyes are on Vijayan, who is accused of improper payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to ‘Exlogic Solutions,’ a company linked to his daughter, T. Veena. Two cases have been registered concerning these transactions.

In both cases, Veena is named as a co-accused, while her husband, CPI(M) legislator P.A. Mohammed Riyas, is the prime accused in a separate hawala-related case. CPI(M) has consistently defended itself by asserting that the ED is being used as a tool to target political adversaries. While this may reflect the party’s political strategy, it does not negate the significance of the summons.

Had a leader from another political party faced similar allegations, CPI(M) would likely have demanded an immediate resignation. However, in Vijayan’s case, the party has made it clear that he does not need to step down from his position as leader of the opposition.

Oommen Chandy once remarked that in Kerala’s politics, it often matters less what has been done and more who has done it. The current controversy presents a fresh challenge for CPI(M), which has long called for accountability from others. The question now is whether the same standards apply within its own ranks.