Congress Leaders in Kerala Question Government Handling of Probe Involving Ex-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Resentment has surfaced among a section of the ruling Congress in Kerala regarding the state government's approach toward former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who faces a vigilance probe in an alleged payoff case involving his daughter Veena's IT firm, Exalogic Solutions.

The Controversy

The discontent centers on the state Home Department's delay in ordering a vigilance probe against Vijayan and others following an Enforcement Directorate report. The ED report recommended that the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau initiate proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act over alleged illegal payments received from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited. Instead of registering an FIR, the V D Satheesan government chose a preliminary inquiry by the Crime Branch. The high court later set aside this inquiry and ordered the bureau to register an FIR after finding sufficient material in the ED report.

Party Reactions

The government's initial handling of the matter has sparked internal debate within the Congress. Two-term MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan stated that the party should not forget its political struggles against the CPI(M). Another young MLA, C R Mahesh, also expressed discontent on social media, while senior leader and MP K Sudhakaran backed Kuzhalnadan and questioned the government's actions. In response, KPCC president and minister Sunny Joseph defended the decision as considerate, mature, and practical, stating that the government acted on legal advice and did not try to hush up the case.

Context

Internal disagreements within ruling political parties often emerge when handling sensitive corruption investigations involving prominent opposition figures or former leaders. The Congress and the CPI(M) remain fierce rivals in Kerala state politics despite being national partners in the INDIA opposition alliance, providing an opening for the BJP to criticize their political dynamic.