Kerala's power purchase controversy deepened on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, as Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan traded fresh accusations over the UDF government's handling of a proposed electricity deal involving the private GNA platform. The dispute, centred on whether Kerala genuinely faced a power crisis and whether a costly private deal was being pushed through, has now emerged as one of the most charged political flashpoints in the state.

Vijayan's Demands and Allegations

Pinarayi Vijayan, in a Facebook post, demanded that Chief Minister Satheesan make all official files and documents relating to the proposed power purchase deal public. He alleged that the government had manufactured an artificial power crisis to facilitate an expensive arrangement favouring private interests.

Vijayan maintained that the latest developments — specifically, the government's decision to hold back from an immediate purchase through GNA — had vindicated the Opposition's long-standing position that no genuine crisis existed. He also clarified that he had never argued in favour of purchasing electricity from Himachal Pradesh, pushing back against what he described as attempts by the Chief Minister to deflect blame onto the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

Satheesan's Defence of the Government's Position

Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Satheesan described the Opposition's arguments as baseless and contradictory. He stressed that the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had neither issued an order nor signed any agreement with GNA, and therefore the question of withdrawing from a deal simply did not arise.

Satheesan noted that the file received from the Electricity Minister had cited a rate of Rs 14.50 per unit for Himachal power against Rs 8.63 per unit for GNA power. Since Himachal Pradesh had already committed its available surplus to Rajasthan, GNA had appeared to be the relatively cheaper option. He clarified, however, that he had not directed KSEB to sign any agreement, and had instead sought a detailed assessment of the state's actual power requirements.

The Turning Point: KSEB's Own Assessment

The controversy took a significant turn after the new KSEB Chairman and the Energy Secretary informed the Chief Minister that there was no immediate need to procure additional power. Satheesan said that the former KSEB chairman's earlier warning — that prolonged power cuts would follow if an agreement was not signed urgently — now warranted a thorough examination.

Notably, this sequence of events raises questions about whether the initial urgency was driven by genuine technical necessity or by other pressures, something both sides are leveraging for political advantage.

Blame Game Over Long-Term Power Planning

Satheesan squarely blamed the previous LDF government for failing to enter into long-term power purchase agreements, arguing that its over-reliance on short-term procurement had contributed to the current difficulties. He said the present government was working to secure power from NTPC's Sinnar plant at Rs 5.18 per unit and was committed to putting a long-term solution in place within the month.

The Opposition has continued to press its case, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the proposed GNA deal remain unexplained, and vowing to keep the issue alive until the government releases the full documentary record. The row shows no signs of abating, with both sides holding entrenched positions ahead of what could become a broader audit of Kerala's energy procurement practices.