Kerala’s dynamic Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, has launched a fierce critique against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, strongly suggesting that the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) summons to the CM’s son forms the very bedrock of an alleged “political understanding” between the CPI(M) and the BJP. This understanding, he claims, even influenced electoral support in Thrissur during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking pointedly to the media in Chavakkad, Thrissur, on Monday (October 14, 2025), Mr. Satheesan grilled the Chief Minister on his alleged “concealment” of the ED summons served to his son. “The notice was sent, yet neither the Chief Minister nor his party bothered to disclose it. More puzzling still, the ED remained silent after issuing the summons. What exactly happened to the subsequent legal process? How did the entire procedure simply vanish, and how did CPI(M) secretary M.A. Baby come to know about it?” he demanded, implying a covert political arrangement to bury the issue.
Satheesan went further, alleging a “clear understanding” between the CPI(M) and the BJP, buttressed by the Chief Minister’s continuous engagements with prominent BJP figures, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He asserted, “The meeting between ADGP Ajith Kumar and an RSS leader was a stark example of this growing nexus. It appears the ED summons served as the catalyst for the CPI(M)’s notably soft stance and the deliberate confusion sown during the Thrissur Pooram festival.”
Shifting focus, the Opposition Leader addressed the contentious Sabarimala temple gold theft and the controversial sale of the Dwarapalaka idol. He highlighted that the Devaswom Vigilance’s report, submitted to the High Court, unequivocally “validated” every single accusation made by the Opposition. “In 2019, the Devaswom Board blatantly disregarded its own rules, sending counterfeit gold plates to Chennai. Shockingly, the authentic Dwarapalaka idol was sold to a billionaire, with the full knowledge and backing of the Devaswom Board and key political leaders,” he revealed.
Mr. Satheesan called for an extensive investigation, specifically targeting the then-Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran. He emphasized that since the Devaswom Board was previously headed by former CPI(M) MLA Padmakumar, “the party itself bears significant culpability.”
He further alleged that the incumbent Devaswom Board president brazenly ignored the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner’s direct order against reappointing Unnikrishnan Potty, who had faced earlier theft accusations. “Why was this very individual brought back despite explicit instructions? This is akin to handing the keys back to the thief!” he charged, demanding the resignation of Minister V.N. Vasavan and the immediate dissolution of the Devaswom Board.
“The Dwarapalaka idol was sold for an exorbitant sum, and a fake replica was created. Had the High Court not intervened, they might have even proceeded to sell the sacred idol of Ayyappa himself,” he vehemently alleged.
‘Conspiracy’ in Police Action Against Shafi Parambil
Regarding the brutal police assault on MP Shafi Parambil, Mr. Satheesan asserted that a “deep-seated conspiracy” underpinned the attack. He noted, “The Kozhikode Rural SP himself conceded that no official lathi charge order or whistle signal was ever given. So, why was an elected Member of Parliament assaulted on the head and nose? It is unequivocally clear that this was a premeditated attack, designed to divert public attention from the mounting Sabarimala scandal.”
He also mocked the SP’s bizarre assertion that artificial intelligence tools would be employed to identify the perpetrators. “Let them launch their investigation. I only hope they won’t come back and claim we attacked our own MP ourselves,” he quipped, underlining the perceived absurdity of the situation.