Congress Leader Challenges Kerala CM Over Undisclosed BJP Meetings

AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal on Tuesday issued a sharp public attack on Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging a series of “secret meetings” with top BJP leaders ahead of the state Assembly polls. In an open letter, Venugopal posed ten pointed questions regarding alleged backroom deals and governance decisions, raising concerns about transparency and coalition dynamics in the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Kerala is set to elect 140 new members to the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. In his letter, Venugopal highlighted Vijayan’s private meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Shah’s Delhi residence, which he said occurred without the presence of officials. He also cited a breakfast meeting hosted by Vijayan for Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Kerala House, again reportedly in the absence of administrative staff.

Venugopal further asked whether Vijayan held discussions with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari outside Delhi, questioning if these engagements were part of any undisclosed understanding with the BJP-led central government. The Congress leader framed his letter as a reflection of public concerns after a decade of LDF rule, suggesting that these interactions contradict the Chief Minister’s publicly stated opposition to the Centre.

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The letter also touched upon governance issues, including the state’s decision to implement the PM SHRI scheme despite objections from the CPI, a key LDF ally. Venugopal accused Vijayan of sidelining coalition partners and proceeding with central labour reforms without consultation, including a steep increase in trade union registration fees, raising questions about a potential shift away from the Left’s pro-worker stance.

Venugopal revisited sensitive legal and corruption-related matters, including repeated adjournments in the SNC Lavalin case, alleged delays in the Exalogic Solutions investigation, and the status of Enforcement Directorate action involving the Chief Minister’s son. He also raised concerns over continued protection for ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar amid accusations of links with RSS leaders and alleged involvement in the Thrissur Pooram controversy.

In his final allegation, the Congress leader demanded clarity on a reported meeting in Thiruvananthapuram between Vijayan and BJP leaders, mediated by spiritual figure Sri M. With Kerala’s Assembly elections imminent, Venugopal’s letter is likely to intensify political debates around transparency, coalition dynamics, and the state government’s relationship with the central administration.

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