BJP slams CPI(M) after ED officials attacked outside Pinarayi Vijayan's home
Synopsis
ED officials were attacked with stones and their vehicles vandalised outside former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's home during raids on the CMRL-Exalogic case — and the BJP is now demanding accountability not just from the CPI(M), but from a Congress it accuses of complicit silence. The episode has turned a financial investigation into a full-blown centre-state confrontation.
Key Takeaways
ED officials and their vehicles were attacked outside former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's residence in Thiruvananthapuram on 27 May during raids linked to the CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case .
BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan alleged CPI(M) workers used stones and concrete blocks in the attack while police remained passive.
Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar called the violence 'the last refuge of the corrupt' and accused the CPI(M) of obstructing a lawful investigation.
Congress was accused of silence to protect the CPI(M), with Chandrasekhar invoking 'Randalla Onnanu' to suggest the two parties were acting in concert.
Rajasekharan also alleged that certain Congress leaders are reportedly implicated in the Exalogic case, putting the party on the defensive.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 27 May launched a blistering offensive against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) after Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and their vehicles were attacked outside the Thiruvananthapuram residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, during raids connected to the CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case. The BJP accused the CPI(M) of shielding its leadership from legal scrutiny and alleged that the Kerala police stood by as a passive spectator during the violence.
The Attack and What Happened
According to BJP leaders, CPI(M) workers hurled stones and concrete blocks at ED officials and vandalised their vehicles while the raid was under way. Senior BJP leader and National Executive Committee member Kummanam Rajasekharan described the incident as shameful, alleging that the police's restrained response effectively emboldened the attackers. He argued that the violence reflected a deeply held belief within the CPI(M) that its leaders are above legal accountability.
What BJP Leaders Said
Kerala BJP President and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar issued a strongly-worded social media post condemning the incident. 'Violence is the last refuge of the corrupt,' Chandrasekhar said, adding that the assault on ED officials outside Vijayan's residence exposed the CPI(M)'s discomfort with institutional scrutiny. He drew a clear line between political protest and what he characterised as an obstruction of a lawful investigation, calling the latter an assault on the rule of law.
Chandrasekhar also accused the Indian National Congress (Congress) of remaining silent to protect the CPI(M), invoking the phrase 'Randalla Onnanu' — suggesting the two parties were effectively operating in concert. 'The people of Kerala deserve the truth. No leader, no party, and no former Chief Minister is above the law,' he said, asserting that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would ensure justice was not derailed through 'threats, violence or political pressure.'
Congress in the Frame Too
Rajasekharan separately alleged that emerging revelations about the purported involvement of certain Congress leaders in the Exalogic case had put the Congress on the defensive as well. He suggested this dual exposure explained the Congress's reluctance to criticise the CPI(M) over the attack on central agency officials.
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
The assault on ED officials has triggered a major political controversy in Kerala, with the BJP framing it as a deliberate attempt to intimidate a central investigating agency. This comes amid a broader pattern of friction between state governments and central enforcement agencies across India, making the Kerala episode particularly significant in terms of centre-state relations. The CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case remains under active investigation, and the ED's next steps — including whether it will seek additional security for future operations in the state — are being closely watched. The BJP has indicated it will escalate the matter politically if the state government does not act against those responsible for the violence.
Point of View
And the Kerala government's response will be scrutinised accordingly. The BJP's decision to implicate the Congress alongside the CPI(M) is a calculated move to prevent an opposition alliance from forming around a shared anti-ED narrative. What mainstream coverage risks missing is the CMRL-Exalogic case itself: the financial transactions at its core remain under-reported even as the political theatre around them dominates headlines. If the ED's findings are substantive, the violence outside Vijayan's home may ultimately prove counterproductive for the CPI(M) — drawing far more national attention to the case than a quiet raid ever would have.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened during the ED raid outside Pinarayi Vijayan's residence?
Enforcement Directorate officials and their vehicles were attacked by alleged CPI(M) workers using stones and concrete blocks outside former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's residence in Thiruvananthapuram on 27 May, during raids linked to the CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case. The BJP alleged that the Kerala police did not intervene.
What is the CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case?
The CMRL-Exalogic case involves financial transactions under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate, reportedly linked to entities connected to Kerala's political establishment. The case has drawn scrutiny toward the former CPI(M)-led state government, and allegations have also surfaced regarding the possible involvement of certain Congress leaders.
What did BJP leaders say about the attack on ED officials?
Senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan called the incident shameful and alleged the CPI(M) believes its leaders are above the law. Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said 'Violence is the last refuge of the corrupt' and characterised the attack as an assault on the rule of law rather than a legitimate political protest.
Why is the Congress being criticised alongside the CPI(M)?
BJP leaders accused the Congress of staying silent on the attack in order to protect the opposition CPI(M). BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar used the phrase 'Randalla Onnanu' — suggesting both parties are functioning together — while Kummanam Rajasekharan alleged that certain Congress leaders are themselves reportedly implicated in the Exalogic case.
What action has the BJP said it will take next?
The BJP has asserted that its NDA alliance will ensure justice is not derailed through threats, violence, or political pressure. The party has indicated it will escalate the matter politically if the Kerala state government does not act against those responsible for the attack on ED officials.
