The Sampadak Express News Desk
The Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP), an outside ally of Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), has publicly opposed the State government’s position in the Kerala High Court on the CMRL–Exalogic payoff case involving Opposition Leader and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and her husband, CPI(M) MLA P.A. Mohamed Riyas, The Hindu reported.
RMP leader and Vadakara MLA K.K. Rema said in a social media post that the UDF government’s stand “undermines its declared position against corruption.” She noted that the government’s initial decision to form a special investigation team to independently assess Enforcement Directorate (ED) material—rather than filing a case solely on the ED report—was politically justified, but argued the State’s submissions before a Division Bench during Mr. Vijayan’s appeal against a Single Judge order for a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) probe were open to criticism.
RMP State secretary N. Venu described the government’s stand as “against the people’s wishes.” He alleged that the Advocate General ridiculed complainant K.M. Shajahan and backed Mr. Vijayan’s arguments before the Bench. Mr. Venu said the UDF’s rise to power owed partly to public sentiment against alleged corruption linked to Mr. Vijayan, contending that deriding Mr. Shajahan “ridicul[es] that popular mandate.”
“The people have a right to know why the Chief Minister took full responsibility for the arguments presented by the Advocate General in the High Court,” Mr. Venu added.
Despite the government’s position favouring only a preliminary inquiry, the High Court ordered the registration of a case against Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena and Mr. Riyas. The VACB subsequently registered two FIRs, according to the report.
The RMP is not a formal UDF constituent but is a key outside partner, especially for the front’s electoral prospects in Kozhikode district and the Vadakara area. This marks the first time the party has openly objected to the government’s stand on a matter.
Ms. Rema further argued that having a leader facing serious corruption allegations serve as Opposition Leader was “undermining the moral credibility of democratic politics.” Alleging that Mr. Vijayan and his family faced charges involving monthly payments, bribes and hawala transactions, she urged Opposition parties to act to “restore the moral credibility” of their politics. She added that the issue was not about who becomes Deputy Leader of the Opposition, but whether the Opposition would remove a leader facing corruption allegations from the post.
The case and the government’s courtroom stance are now under intensified scrutiny from within the UDF’s broader support base, even as the VACB investigations proceed following the High Court’s directions.
