Thiruvananthapuram, April 25: Kerala's worsening power crisis has triggered a sharp political confrontation, with Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan alleging on Saturday that the state government's decision to scrap long-term electricity purchase agreements was driven by corruption, resulting in unannounced load shedding that is battering residents during peak summer heat. Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty rejected the charge, insisting that only natural grid regulation — not deliberate load shedding — is being carried out.

Satheesan's Corruption Allegation and UDF Warning

Satheesan alleged that the LDF government arbitrarily cancelled a long-term power procurement deal finalised during the tenure of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, which had secured 465 MW of electricity at an average rate of Rs 4.29 per unit. The cancellation, he argued, has forced the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to purchase power at Rs 6 to Rs 12 per unit on the open market, inflicting daily financial losses of Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore on the state utility.

The Opposition leader demanded an independent probe into the cancellation, alleging that private power companies were the prime beneficiaries of the government's decision. He warned that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would launch strong protests if power restrictions are not immediately lifted.

Calling the outages a direct challenge to the people amid scorching temperatures, Satheesan also questioned the LDF's flagship claim of delivering ten uninterrupted years without power cuts under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling it hollow in the face of the current crisis.

Minister Krishnankutty's Rebuttal

Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty firmly denied that Kerala is experiencing unannounced load shedding, stating that what is being carried out is only routine grid balancing during overload conditions. He disclosed that power consumption in the state has surged past 6,195 MW, necessitating the purchase of costlier electricity to meet demand.

The Minister said the government is actively working to prevent a tariff hike and appealed to consumers to exercise restraint in electricity usage during peak hours. He dismissed Opposition criticism of the LDF's no-power-cut record, framing the current strain as part of a nationwide trend driven by extreme summer heat.

In a pointed remark, Krishnankutty said the Opposition should direct its questions to nature itself, attributing the demand surge to the unprecedented heatwave. He expressed confidence that the situation would normalise within two days.

Ground Reality: Complaints Rise Across Kerala

Despite the government's denial, residents across Kerala are reporting frequent short-duration outages, particularly during night hours when cooling demand peaks. Complaints have been flooding in from multiple districts, indicating a gap between the official position and the on-ground experience of consumers.

The surge in electricity consumption is consistent with a broader pattern seen across India during the April–May summer peak, when air-conditioner and cooling appliance usage spikes sharply. KSEB, already strained by the cancellation of long-term contracts, is reportedly struggling to balance the grid without resorting to rolling cuts.

High-Level Review and Political Stakes

A high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is scheduled to review the power situation, signalling that the administration is treating the crisis with urgency. The meeting is expected to assess short-term procurement options and demand-side management measures.

The political stakes are significant. The LDF government has long positioned its uninterrupted power supply record as a flagship governance achievement. Any sustained acknowledgement of load shedding would directly undermine that narrative, particularly with local body elections and state political cycles in view.

Notably, the controversy over scrapped long-term power agreements echoes past debates in Kerala about energy policy transparency. Critics have previously argued that short-term open-market power purchases, while flexible, expose the state to price volatility and fiscal risk — precisely the scenario Satheesan is now highlighting.

What Comes Next

With peak summer demand expected to persist through May 2025, the pressure on KSEB and the state government will only intensify. If the Chief Minister's review meeting fails to produce immediate relief, the UDF's threatened protests could escalate into a wider political flashpoint. The Opposition's demand for a probe into the cancelled power deal also raises the possibility of legislative scrutiny and public audits of KSEB's procurement decisions in the weeks ahead.