Kerala’s CPI-M Faces Internal Revolt as Independent MLA Alleges Wide-Ranging Corruption
Thiruvananthapuram, September 26, 2024 – Kerala’s political landscape witnessed a significant upheaval as P.V. Anwar, an Independent MLA backed by the CPI-M, launched a scathing attack on the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In a press conference that has sent shockwaves through the state’s political circles, Anwar accused the government of corruption, nepotism, and failing to curb crime within the state police.
Anwar’s allegations against the Chief Minister’s office and senior police officials include:
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Collaboration in Gold Smuggling: Anwar alleged that senior police officers, including ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar, are involved in gold smuggling operations at airports, with the spoils shared among them.
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RSS Influence: He claimed that there is a covert influence of the RSS in state governance, which undermines the secular fabric of Kerala.
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Nepotism: Anwar pointed specifically at the Chief Minister’s son-in-law, Riyaz, suggesting undue favoritism within the government.
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Fear Among Minorities: He stated that minority communities live in fear due to the state’s failure to act against these alleged corruptions.
The CPI-M leadership, including LDF convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan, has swiftly denounced Anwar’s accusations, stating that his claims are being weaponized by political adversaries against the party. The party has urged Anwar to retract his statements, emphasizing that investigations into his earlier allegations were ongoing.
Anwar, however, remains defiant, declaring he will not resign as MLA but will not participate in CPI-M parliamentary meetings, signaling a significant rift with the party.