Latest news with #V.D.Satheesan
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Leak of complaint submitted to CPI(M) Polit Bureau triggers political controversy
A political controversy appears to be brewing over the media leak of a 'confidential complaint' purportedly submitted to the Polit Bureau (PB) of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] by a Kozhikode-based businessperson. The controversial letter reportedly implicated a group of CPI(M) leaders, including former Ministers, in financial scams centred around a U.K.-based businessperson from Kerala. The complaint emerged in the public domain on Sunday after the NRI businessperson adduced it as evidence in a libel suit filed by him against his rival and some sections of the media in a Delhi court. Graft charges The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized on the somewhat knotty controversy riddled with accusations of financial shenanigans, corruption, money laundering and nepotism in an attempt to put the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government on the defensive. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan demanded a clarification from the party and the government on the veracity of the accusations raised by the Kozhikode-based businessperson. Mr. Satheesan said the crux of the litigation appeared to be bitter feuding between two business rivals for the patronage of powerful CPI(M) leaders. He noted financial transactions involving the next of kin of CPI(M) leaders might be at the root of the scandal. Nevertheless, Mr. Satheesan stated, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan owed the public an explanation. He said the presence of the U.K.-based businessperson at the CPI(M)'s 24th party conference in Madurai in April, and his attendance at the Kerala Loka Sabha conference added to the political intrigue. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, MLA, stated that the sensational leak was mystifying and appeared to signal that 'something was rotten' in the CPI(M) 's State leadership. He said the scandal had the contours of official corruption with international ramifications and hidden rivalries within the CPI(M) leadership. Mr. Joseph demanded an investigation. 'Calls for inquiry' BJP former State president K. Surendran said the accuser had alleged in the letter that the NRI businessperson's paper company registered in Chennai had profited from government projects. 'If the accusations are true, they warranted an inquiry under the anti-money laundering and foreign exchange management laws,' he said. The CPI(M) was yet to formally react to the BJP and Congress's accusations.
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
UDF Opposition seeks to weaponise leak of confidential complaint to CPI(M) polit bureau, accusing certain Kerala leaders of corruption
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition on Sunday (August 17, 2025) sought to politically weaponise the media leak of a purported 'confidential complaint' to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] polit bureau, reportedly accusing an assemblage of party leaders from Kerala, including former Ministers, of partnering in financial shenanigans allegedly enabled by a U.K.-based business person from the State. Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, who demanded a clarification from the party and government on the veracity of the accusation, pointed out that the controversial letter, which grabbed headlines in Kerala, was adduced as evidence in a libel suit in New Delhi involving two business persons with apparent CPI(M) connections. UDF demands CM's resignation after court accuses political executive of subverting anti-corruption probe against ADGP He said the crux of the litigation appeared to be bitter feuding between two business rivals for the patronage of powerful CPI(M) leaders. 'Financial transactions gone awry might also have fuelled the disagreement, which has put the CPI(M) on the defensive in Kerala,' he added. Mr. Satheesan noted that the U.K.-based businessperson was an invitee to the CPI(M)'s 24th party conference in Madurai in April 2025 and a member of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government-sponsored Kerala Loka Sabha. Mr. Satheesan said the NRI's rival objected to the businessperson's presence at the conference and later submitted a lengthy letter loaded with accusations of financial fraud, including possible FEMA violations allegedly involving CPI(M) leaders in Kerala. Vigilance court verdict on ADGP validates Opposition's claim, says Satheesan Mr. Satheesan said the serious imputations in the letter, if true, prima facie warranted investigation under the provisions of the anti-money laundering law. 'For one, the accuser alleged in the letter that the previous LDF government routed major projects to a paper company floated by the NRI businessperson in Chennai. Is this a classic case of reverse hawala?' he said. V.D. Satheesan assures to field CMP candidates from more than one seat in 2026 Assembly elections 'I am not taking names at this juncture. However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan owed the public an explanation. It's also mystifying how the confidential letter to the CPI(M) polit bureau ended in the possession of an NRI businessperson to adduce as evidence in court. It seems the letter's leak has brought to the fore the hidden but deeply entrenched fissures in the CPI(M) leadership in Kerala,' he stated. The CPI(M) was yet to react to Mr. Satheesan's accusations. Attempts to seek a comment about Mr. Satheesan's allegations from a few leaders were yet to yield a response.
The Hindu
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Lifeguard union stages protest in front of Secretariat
Kerala Lifeguard Employees' Union marched to the Secretariat and staged a dharna on Monday demanding that the labour issues of lifeguards be resolved. Their demands included permanent employment for life guards who have been working for the Tourism department for over 30 years, implementation of social security schemes and ESI/EPF, pension benefits and gratuity for lifeguards, appointment of women life guards, appropriate hike in salary, reinstation of food, uniform allowances and supply of necessary rescue gear to life guards Inaugurating the march and dharna, the Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan, said that it was deplorable that the government seemed disinterested in resolving the issues of those who risked their own safety on a daily basis to keep others safe. He criticised the government for neglecting the basic workforce in the tourism sector, one of the core sectors in the State which brought in substantial foreign revenue to the State Mr. Satheesan assured the life guards that their issues would be taken up in the upcoming Assembly session
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CMP 40th founding day anniversary convention on Saturday
The Communist Marxist Party (CMP) will observe its 40th founding day convention at the Tagore Theatre on Saturday. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan will inaugurate the convention. Chairman of the party's control commission, V.K. Raveendran, will hoist the flag. M. P. Saju, chairperson of the welcoming committee, will welcome the delegates. The CMP general secretary C.P. John will preside over the function. Kerala Congress (Joseph) leader Mons Joseph, MLA, and District Congress Committee president Palode Ravi are among the speakers. CMP secretary Suresh Babu will propose the vote of thanks. Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader Shibu Baby John, Forward Bloc general secretary G. Devarajan and Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) leader M. Shajahan will lead the discussions at the seminar on the 'Relevance of the Communist Movement in the contemporary world'.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Satheesan accuses Election Commission of ‘leaking' Kerala voters' list to CPI(M), warns of legal action over poll bias
Kerala's Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has accused the State Election Commission of acting as 'a tool' of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in connection with the upcoming local body elections. He has warned that if the commission fails to ensure a free and fair election, the United Democratic Front will resort to legal action. Addressing the media in Kannur after inaugurating the handing-over ceremony of documents to 83 landless people in the Kannur Corporation limits on Monday (July 21, 2025), Mr. Satheesan alleged that the draft voters' list was 'leaked' to the CPI(M) ahead of its official publication on July 23 and claimed that the list was tampered with to remove numerous names. 'The time provided, just five days from July 23 to August 7, for the voters to verify and add their names is grossly inadequate,' he said, demanding an extension of at least 30 days. He also criticised the commission for failing to implement a cap of 1,100 voters per booth as was enforced during the General Elections. 'In rural areas, the number has gone up to 1,300, making it impossible to complete voting even by 10 p.m.,' he said, alleging that the move was intended to 'aid the CPI(M) in disrupting the polls.' Mr. Satheesan further claimed that the Election Commission's actions indicated 'clear support for attempts to sabotage the election process.' 'The commission must act independently, without bowing to government pressure,' he said. Mr. Satheesan also questioned the CPI(M)'s 'ambiguous response' to recent remarks by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan. 'Their vague statement confirms our allegations that the Chief Minister is using Vellappally to spread communal narratives. A leader associated with the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru should not utter words that go against his philosophy,' he said. 'Govt-Governor tussle a staged drama' He also criticised the recent stand-off between the State government and the Governor, terming it 'a staged drama' to divert attention from mounting public discontent. 'Both the Governor and the government escalated a trivial issue for days, only to settle it after tarnishing students and universities. These theatrics emerge every time the government face a crisis,' he said. Mr. Satheesan raised questions about the earlier appointment of Mohanan Kunnummal as the Vice Chancellor of the Kerala University of Health University (KUHS) by the same LDF government. 'If he is RSS, why did the government appoint him? Was there a prior understanding with the Sangh Parivar?' he asked. On the controversy surrounding the death of former Kannur ADM Naveen Babu, Mr. Satheesan demanded that the Revenue Minister respond to the latest revelations. Mr. Satheesan dismissed that claims that Youth Congress workers blocked an ambulance at Vithura in Thiruvananthapuram as a 'manufactured lie', citing statements by the deceased's family reportedly asserting that protesters 'had in fact helped the patient into the ambulance.'
