Kerala Opposition Demands Judicial Probe Into Power Deal Controversy

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan demanded a judicial inquiry led by a High Court judge on Friday regarding the cancellation of the GNA power purchase deal. He stated that statements made by Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph proved the Chief Minister's previous claims about the contract were factually incorrect. Mr. Vijayan pointed out that the Electricity Minister openly stated the Kerala State Electricity Board did not exert pressure to buy power and that the GNA contract was unfeasible. According to the Opposition leader, the Chief Minister earlier dismissed claims that GNA was an intermediary agency rather than a power producer or licensed trader. He asserted that the government only withdrew from the contract after the Opposition exposed irregularities.

Cabinet Divisions

Mr. Vijayan noted that the Chief Minister had repeatedly claimed the decision favouring GNA was his own. He stated that these suspicious moves happened either with the Chief Minister's direct knowledge or under his unilateral leadership. When the controversy grew, the Chief Minister tried to shift the blame onto an official. Mr. Vijayan said that a Cabinet member publicly contradicting official announcements made after Cabinet meetings exposes deep divisions and a lack of collective responsibility.

Context

Power purchase contracts and energy board agreements often involve complex negotiations between state utilities and private suppliers. Disputes over intermediaries and pricing frequently trigger political debates in state assemblies regarding transparency and public funds. Opposition parties routinely use such controversies to question the administrative accountability of ruling governments.