Previous govt's lapse; crocodile tears: Kerala CM, LoP face off over power crisis, road deaths, PSC

A sharp political confrontation has erupted in Kerala between Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, heading the United Democratic Front (UDF) administration, and Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, who led the former Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The two leaders on Wednesday (November 4) traded intense allegations over the state's power shortages, rising road fatalities, bar licensing policy, and recruitment irregularities.

Former regime blamed for current power shortage

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan attributed the state's severe electricity crisis to the lack of planning by the previous LDF administration alongside unexpected El Niño weather patterns. He stated that the former government failed to foresee future energy demands and neglected to secure long-term supply contracts. According to Satheesan, an unwise 500 MW power swap arranged under the LDF regime had to be returned in June and July, right before electricity consumption surged by nearly 1,000 MW in September.

Refuting accusations regarding private power procurement, Satheesan pointed out that during Pinarayi Vijayan’s tenure in 2025, electricity was regularly bought from the same private vendor, GNA, as well as firms like Jindal and Adani. He explained that Kerala depends heavily on private suppliers for its electricity requirements, receiving only 180 MW from the government-run Nuclear Power Corporation at ₹4.65 per unit over the last two months.

To meet the deficit, the government chose GNA's open platform offer at ₹8.63 and ₹8.90 per unit over Himachal Pradesh's proposal of ₹14.50 per unit. "Can we buy electricity at a price that is ₹6 higher simply because it is labelled government?" Satheesan asked, noting that buying from Himachal would have imposed an extra burden of ₹2,232 crore. He added that discussions with the NTPC Chairman in Delhi yielded an agreement for 1,000 MW at ₹5.18 per unit after March 2027. He also dismissed claims over the KSEB Chairman's transfer, clarifying that standard procedures were followed by the Civil Services Board.

Opposition attacks government over fatal road accidents

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan launched a scathing attack on the UDF government over the alarming rise in fatal road accidents. He asserted that the previous LDF government had introduced scientific traffic controls, AI cameras, and strict vehicle inspections to save lives on the roads. Vijayan accused the UDF of opposing these safety measures for political gain and encouraging reckless behaviour by promising to remove traffic cameras once in power.

Citing recent tragic incidents, Vijayan highlighted a crash in Nedumbassery where a drunk youth killed three innocent people, a fatal accident in Cheranalloor involving a minor, and an unlicensed youth caught driving recklessly in Thiruvalla. "Those who sacrificed the state's road safety for cheap political gains must correct themeselves and show sincerity in implementing the law," Vijayan said, describing the government's current response as "crocodile tears".

Policy loopholes blamed for bar licence dispute

Addressing the bar licensing controversy, Chief Minister Satheesan placed the blame squarely on administrative loopholes created during the LDF tenure. He stated that under the previous regime, arrangements were made enabling Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners to issue bar licences without ministerial knowledge. Satheesan pledged that no bar would receive a licence without explicit government approval once the new liquor policy is implemented.

Government promises action on recruitment irregularities

Turning to the Public Service Commission (PSC) controversy, Satheesan accused the opposition of trying to shield corrupt officials under the pretext of discussing the Governor's recommendation. Although the Governor recommended dismissing the PSC chairman and members without consulting the government as required by the Constitution, Satheesan insisted this procedural issue should not cover up widespread recruitment corruption. Preliminary investigations revealed that CPM loyalists and their relatives were favoured over hard-working candidates, prompting numerous complaints across multiple examinations.

Additionally, Satheesan announced the creation of 28 essential healthcare posts—12 Grade-2 Dental Hygienists and 16 Grade-2 Cath Lab Technicians—to overcome operational bottlenecks in hospitals despite financial constraints. The government also established six supernumerary posts to protect PSC typist candidates whose jobs were threatened after court orders cancelled improper clerk promotions.