Keralam CM, Ministers Chennithala and Sunny Joseph meet amid ‘power group’ in UDF row

(From left) Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph and Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan (file)

A closed-door meeting between Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph at the Cliff House late Wednesday (November 11, 2026) has piqued political interest against the backdrop of the roiling controversy centred on the allegation that a “power group” aligned with the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) superseded the Cabinet in key decision-making.

Official sources told The Hindu that the meeting had “ironed out perceived differences and resolved not to provide political ammunition to the Opposition via public statements”.

They said the meeting was “political” in nature and also focussed on expediting the delayed division of boards and corporations between ruling front allies, a sticking point in the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance.

None of the three leaders was immediately available for comment.

Matters had come to a head in the UDF recently after Mr Joseph, who is also the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, inadvertently lent credence to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Opposition’s insinuation that the so-called “power group” decided policy behind the Cabinet’s back, most recently a now-revoked power purchase agreement with General Network Access (GNA), a private vendor.

Mr Joseph said he had learned of the government’s decision to pivot away from purchasing power from GNA through the media, sparking a political row.

UDF convener Adoor Prakash, MP, further discomfited the government by not pushing back against the LDF’s accusation that the “power group” blindsided Ministers in key decision-making, potentially jeopardising the Cabinet’s collective responsibility.

Instead, Mr Prakash aired veiled criticism of the CMO, saying, seemingly cynically, that “proof of collective responsibility was trickling out into the open”, and directed further questions to Ministers.

Meanwhile, the LDF has ratcheted up its demand for a judicial enquiry into the Opposition’s accusation that the UDF government had touted a “non-existent power crisis” to enter into an “emergency power purchase” from GNA, allegedly without inviting open tenders and “by-passing” the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC).

Former Law Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretariat member P. Rajeeve led the charge, alleging that GNA was not a licensed power generator. He said the company was a digital platform that negotiated power purchases for a significant commission. Mr Rajeeve alleged that Mr Satheesan had sidelined Mr Joseph to push the “corrupt” deal through.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said the government pivoted away from the “dubious deal” at the last minute after the LDF blew the whistle on “the lie” that Keralam faced a crippling power shortage. He said the KSERC’s position vindicated the LDF’s stance.

Mr Satheesan, however, sought to dial down the controversy, which appeared to target his government’s unity, by saying the administration had merely explored options to tide over a potential power crisis initially predicted by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).

“The current power availability in Keralam prompted the government to ditch the options. The KSEB has not contracted GNA for power. The LDF’s allegations are merely a storm in a teacup”, he said.