Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph, in an apparent expression of displeasure, has said that he came to know about his government's latest decision not to purchase power from a private entity via news reports, prompting the CPI(M)-led opposition to claim on Tuesday that he was being kept in the dark by Chief Minister V D Satheesan.

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Opposition leader and veteran CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan also claimed that a power crisis was artificially created in the state and demanded a judicial probe by a High Court judge into the alleged "blatant corruption".

Joseph, speaking to reporters on Monday, said he came to know through news reports that the CM spoke with the Power Secretary and the chairman of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) regarding the purchase of electricity.

"The CM is above the ministers. He can intervene, as required, in any department," he said, but added that final decisions are taken by the cabinet.

The minister said that he too has spoken to the CM several times.

He also said that the state was able to hold on in October thanks to the power supplied by the Himachal Pradesh government.

Joseph further said that if power was available from Himachal Pradesh for the period November 2026 to May 2027, it would have been beneficial for Keralam.

His remarks came in response to reporters' queries regarding the government's reported decision not to purchase power from the GNA, a private platform, as was decided earlier.

The latest government decision comes amidst widespread criticism from various quarters regarding the move to purchase electricity from General Network Access (GNA).

Vijayan, in a statement, claimed that the government was forced to change its stance after the opposition raised serious questions about irregularities in the GNA power deal and the potential for financial losses.

Vijayan contended that the government is trying to justify its decision not to purchase power from GNA by claiming that there will be no electricity crisis in the state in November and December.

He alleged that a power crisis was "wrongfully created" in the state to purchase electricity at high rates.

"All the usual process was avoided, and KSEB as well as the concerned minister were sidelined to take the decision to buy power from GNA platform," he claimed.

He further alleged that the CM led the move to impose a huge financial burden on the people in the name of a non-existent crisis, and demanded a judicial inquiry by a High Court judge into it.

He also termed the CM's move to award a contract to a private entity, despite objections of the KSEB and without following the due procedure, as "blatant corruption".

Even the electricity minister was being kept in the dark, Vijayan alleged and questioned who the real beneficiaries were of the alleged "artificial power crisis" created in the state to pave the way for "massive corruption".

Later in the day, senior CPI(M) leader and former state minister P Rajeev questioned why the CM decided to purchase power from GNA when, according to the KSEB, there was no immediate electricity crisis in Keralam.

Rajeev also claimed that even if there was a crisis, then Himachal Pradesh ought to have been opted for, as that was the choice of the KSEB also.

The CPI(M) leader said that if the decision to purchase power was taken based on a letter by the former KSEB chairman, then all the documents related to it should be disclosed.

He also contended that the electricity minister's remarks regarding the CM's intervention have "exposed" the UDF government in such a short time after coming to power.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Mathrubhumi and is published from a syndicated feed.)