Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator V. Muraleedharan on Monday, 9 November 2026, raised sharp questions over the V.D. Satheesan-led Kerala government's decision to purchase electricity through a private power platform without floating a public tender. The MLA demanded a full accounting of the arrangement, alleging the move raised serious doubts about the government's intentions.

The Core Allegation

Muraleedharan questioned how the government could award a power supply contract to a private company — reportedly identified as GNA — without inviting competitive bids. He also asked whether other companies had approached the government with supply offers, and what criteria were applied in selecting the particular firm. The absence of a transparent procurement process, he argued, warranted an immediate public explanation from Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

The Himachal Pradesh Alternative

At the centre of the controversy is an apparent alternative that was not pursued. According to Muraleedharan, media reports indicate that Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph and former KSEB chairman Rajamanickam had favoured purchasing electricity from the Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh government rather than from a private entity. 'If the state had the option of purchasing power from Himachal Pradesh, why was an agreement with that state government not pursued? What is the interest behind choosing a private company?' he asked.

He further demanded that Satheesan disclose the details of his discussions with the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and explain why the proposed state-to-state arrangement was dropped.

Coverage Gap and Cost Comparison

Muraleedharan pointed out a critical operational gap in the private arrangement: the supply through GNA would cover only the period from November 2026 to March 2027, leaving out April and May 2027 — months when Kerala's power demand typically remains elevated. He alleged that Himachal Pradesh had reportedly been willing to supply electricity through May 2027, making the state option both more comprehensive and, by his comparison of overall costs, more economical. 'If Himachal Pradesh was willing to supply electricity until May, why was that option dropped? The government must explain this,' he said.

Minister's Silence Under Scrutiny

The BJP leader also turned his attention to Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph, questioning why the minister had remained silent over the controversy. He alleged the minister's silence was itself suspicious. 'How can a minister continue in office when he has no role in decisions taken by his own department?' Muraleedharan asked, pressing for clarity on whether the minister was consulted before the private deal was finalised.

What the Government Must Clarify

Muraleedharan demanded that the government publicly disclose the financial implications of both the GNA deal and the Himachal Pradesh option, and explain the basis on which the private platform was selected over a government-to-government arrangement. This comes amid broader scrutiny of power procurement practices in several states, where the absence of competitive tendering has previously drawn audit objections. The opposition is likely to escalate the matter in the Kerala Assembly if the government does not respond with a detailed statement.