THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The political showdown in Kerala escalated today as Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accepted the challenge posed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and, in turn, dared the CM to an open public debate on a range of critical political and development issues facing the state.
Responding sharply to the ten questions raised by the Chief Minister, Satheesan declared, “I am ready for a public debate. The Chief Minister can decide the place and the date.” This move is seen as a strategic escalation, shifting the battleground from press conferences to a direct, face-to-face accountability check.
Satheesan systematically addressed and rebutted the Chief Minister’s statements on key projects, before unleashing a volley of counter-questions focused on alleged financial mismanagement and political hypocrisy within the LDF government.
Countering Development Claims
Satheesan fiercely countered the CM’s claims regarding flagship projects:
- Life Mission: Refuting the assertion that housing for the poor began only with the Life Mission, Satheesan cited Assembly figures showing that the previous Oommen Chandy government had constructed over 4.5 lakh houses. He accused the CM of distributing “capsules” of misinformation manufactured by the CPM’s cyber wings.
- Vizhinjam Port: Satheesan challenged the CM, reminding him that he was the Party Secretary who once alleged the project was a cover for a ₹6,000 crore real estate deal. He also demanded that the CM apologize to Oommen Chandy after the Justice Ramachandran Nair Commission found no corruption in the project.
- KIIFB & State Debt: While acknowledging KIIFB’s role, the Opposition Leader argued that it was merely a method to implement projects previously covered under the state budget. He highlighted that less than 20% of projects sanctioned through KIIFB were completed and criticized the use of high-interest Masala Bonds, calling the borrowing practices “financial mismanagement.”
- K-Rail & Coastal Highway: Defending the protests against the K-Rail SilverLine project, Satheesan stated it was the legitimate resistance of a populace facing displacement. Regarding the Coastal Highway, he insisted the opposition was solely due to the lack of a published Detailed Project Report (DPR) and proper social and environmental impact assessments.
Questioning Political Ethics
The debate extended into the realm of political morality, with Satheesan adopting an aggressive tone.
He scoffed at the CM’s moral high ground, pointing out that two “comrades” were currently in jail for gold theft from a prominent temple’s Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum). He taunted the CM’s “extraordinary callousness” (Tolkutty) for embracing jailed individuals while criticizing the Congress party.
Most pointedly, Satheesan raised questions directly challenging the CM’s inner circle:
- Political Secretary: He demanded to know the identity and past history of the Chief Minister’s Political Secretary, questioning who was truly controlling the Police Department from the CM’s office.
The public challenge throws down the gauntlet for Chief Minister Vijayan, forcing him to either accept a direct televised debate or risk appearing dismissive of the core issues of governance and financial accountability raised by the Opposition. The political atmosphere in Kerala is now charged, anticipating the Chief Minister’s next move.
