Pinarayi Vijayan Calls ED Move a ‘Shared Political Agenda’ of BJP and Congress in Kerala

During a press conference in Kannur on September 12, 2026, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan raised eyebrows by suggesting that the Enforcement Directorate’s latest push to involve him in the CMRL‑Exalogic payoff case was not merely a legal exercise but a coordinated political play.

Vijayan, who leads the Left Democratic Front, pointed out the irony that the same central agency, which opposition parties – especially the Congress – have long painted as a “cat’s‑paw” of the BJP‑led Union government, now seemed to have the backing of those very parties in the state.

“We have heard Congress leaders repeatedly claim the ED is being used to intimidate and harass political opponents at the centre,” he said, recalling past accusations that the agency had targeted senior Congress figures such as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. “Yet here in Kerala, Congress figures are enthusiastically supporting the ED’s attempts to go after our CPI(M) comrades.”

The controversy centres on a deal involving the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and the now‑defunct software firm Exalogic. The ED alleged that, during the previous LDF government, the chief minister’s office helped CMRL – in which the state holds a minority stake – channel illegal payments to Exalogic as disguised retainers.

However, that accusation has already been tossed aside by multiple courts. Both the Vigilance Court and the Kerala High Court, followed later by the Supreme Court, dismissed the charges, saying there was no evidence that the chief minister used his position to enrich the company.

Vijayan suggested that the current push by the ED, which appears to enjoy a rare consensus between the BJP at the centre and the Congress‑led UDF in Kerala, reflects a “shared political agenda” aimed at weakening the CPI(M). He warned that such maneuvers could further polarise Kerala’s already charged political landscape.

He concluded by urging the public and the media to look beyond the sensational headlines and examine the real motives behind the investigation, hinting that the ED’s actions might be less about law‑enforcement and more about delivering a political punch.