In a recent development, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that his government is open to examining and taking action on a request for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. This probe would investigate the alleged criminal conspiracy to implicate Oommen Chandy, a former Chief Minister, in a sexual exploitation case. The opposition, led by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), has been pressing for this investigation.
Vijayan made this statement in response to a debate that arose in the legislative assembly. The issue was introduced by a motion from UDF, which aimed to adjourn the house to discuss the alleged conspiracy. The motion was eventually rejected, as the Chief Minister stated the government had not yet officially received the CBI report. Without it, he argued, any discussion would not be based on facts or law.
Shafi Parambil, a Congress MLA, raised the adjournment motion on the same day that Oommen Chandy’s son, Chandy Oommen, was sworn in as an MLA. Parambil accused the Left front of targeting and tarnishing Chandy’s reputation over the years. He claimed the accusations were part of a “criminal conspiracy” meant to defame Chandy and to topple the then UDF government.
The debate saw other UDF members also pointing fingers at Vijayan as the main person behind this conspiracy. They demanded an apology from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), the party leading the current government. Some mentioned that Kerala Congress (B) MLA K B Ganesh Kumar’s name was present in the CBI report. Ganesh Kumar, however, denied any involvement.
Vijayan concluded the debate by calling the allegations ‘baseless’ and stated that his government initiated a CBI probe based on legal advice and not to target anyone specifically.
The controversy has raised many questions about the political landscape in Kerala. With the government now open to a CBI probe if requested by the UDF, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what impact it will have on future politics in the state.