Kerala LoP Pinarayi Vijayan demands judicial probe into power purchase deals
Synopsis
For the first time, Kerala LoP Pinarayi Vijayan has demanded a sitting High Court judge-led probe into the state's power purchase deals — alleging a private intermediary with no power-generation licence was used, KSEB objections were overridden, and the Electricity Minister was kept in the dark. With a 200 MW purchase at ₹11 per unit also under scrutiny, the controversy is testing the UDF government's credibility on energy governance.
Key Takeaways
Kerala LoP Pinarayi Vijayan on 10 November demanded a judicial probe led by a sitting High Court judge into the state's power purchase deals.
The government cancelled a short-term power purchase agreement through the GNA Energy OTC Platform amid mounting Opposition pressure.
Vijayan alleged 200 MW of power was purchased in October from V.E.N.
Global at ₹11 per unit without a tender or regulatory approval.
He alleged the deal was finalised by overriding KSEB objections and bypassing a proper tender process.
Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph was allegedly kept uninformed about key decisions, including the cancellation.
Vijayan demanded all related files be made public and that the probe examine the role of the Chief Minister's Office .
Kerala's Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday, 10 November demanded a judicial inquiry — to be led by a sitting High Court judge — into the state's controversial power purchase agreements and the alleged corruption surrounding them. The demand marks the first time Vijayan has formally sought a judicial probe into what has become a defining political flashpoint between the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF).
What Triggered the Demand
The immediate trigger was the cancellation of a short-term power purchase agreement executed through the GNA Energy OTC Platform. Vijayan argued that the government's decision to scrap the deal vindicates the Opposition's position that there was no genuine power shortage in the state to begin with. He alleged the agreement was withdrawn only after the Opposition and the media exposed what he described as serious irregularities.
He further claimed the deal was pushed through at an inflated rate by involving a private intermediary that neither generated electricity nor held a licence as a power trader — a characterisation that, he alleged, points to a larger scam.
Key Allegations Against the Government
Vijayan alleged that the power purchase agreement was finalised by overriding objections raised by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and without adhering to a standard tender process. He also alleged that Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph was kept uninformed about key developments, including the cancellation of the agreement — a claim he said raises serious questions about the functioning of the state Cabinet and the principle of collective responsibility.
The former Chief Minister further alleged that 200 MW of power was purchased in October from V.E.N. Global at ₹11 per unit, reportedly arranged through the Chief Minister's Office without a tender or prior approval from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Questions Raised About the Chief Minister's Office
Vijayan questioned the role of the Chief Minister's Office in driving the power purchase decisions, asking who benefited from what he described as an artificially created power crisis and why the state exchequer was burdened with the cost of high-priced purchases. He also sought clarity on the rationale behind a proposed power purchase from Himachal Pradesh.
The former Chief Minister demanded that all files related to the deals be made public and that the proposed judicial inquiry examine the role of the Chief Minister and all individuals involved in the decision-making.
Political Context and What Comes Next
The power purchase controversy has escalated since the V.D. Satheesan-led Kerala government cancelled the GNA-linked agreement amid mounting public and Opposition scrutiny over its terms. This is the latest in a series of confrontations between the UDF dispensation and the LDF Opposition over energy procurement decisions in the state. Notably, the Opposition's demand for a sitting judge-led inquiry — rather than a government-appointed committee — signals a push for an inquiry framework outside executive control. How the Satheesan government responds to the demand for transparency is likely to shape the trajectory of this controversy in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Which, if substantiated, would point to a concentration of power in the Chief Minister's Office that bypasses even Cabinet colleagues. The ₹11-per-unit purchase from V.E.N. Global without a tender or regulatory sign-off is the kind of specific, verifiable allegation that opposition movements rarely get handed so cleanly. The Satheesan government's response — or silence — on file disclosure will determine whether this remains a rhetorical battle or becomes a governance crisis.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kerala power purchase deal controversy about?
The controversy centres on short-term power purchase agreements entered into by the Kerala government, allegedly involving a private intermediary with no power-generation or trading licence, inflated rates, and a bypass of standard tender procedures and KSEB objections. The cancellation of one such agreement through the GNA Energy OTC Platform intensified Opposition scrutiny.
Why is Pinarayi Vijayan demanding a judicial probe?
Vijayan argues that the scale of alleged irregularities — including a ₹11-per-unit power purchase from V.E.N. Global without a tender, the sidelining of KSEB, and the alleged exclusion of the Electricity Minister from key decisions — warrants independent judicial oversight rather than an internal government inquiry. This is the first time he has formally sought such an inquiry into this controversy.
What role does the Chief Minister's Office allegedly play?
Vijayan alleged that the 200 MW power purchase from V.E.N. Global in October was arranged directly through the Chief Minister's Office, bypassing both a tender process and prior approval from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. He has called for the CMO's role to be specifically examined in any judicial inquiry.
Who is affected by the power purchase deals?
Kerala taxpayers and electricity consumers are directly affected, as the allegedly inflated purchase rates increase the financial burden on the state exchequer and, potentially, on KSEB's cost base. The controversy also implicates the accountability of the UDF Cabinet, including Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph.
What happens next in this controversy?
The immediate question is whether the V.D. Satheesan-led government will agree to disclose all files related to the deals, as demanded by the Opposition, or contest the calls for a judicial inquiry. The LDF Opposition is expected to continue pressing the issue in the state legislature and in the public domain.
