Congress Stands Against Power Tariff Hike Amid Crisis

The opposition Congress has vowed to block any attempt by the Left government to increase power tariffs in the state. They accuse the current government of mismanagement and corruption, citing the cancellation of a previous 25-year contract, which has led to financial losses and increased electricity costs.

The opposition Congress on Saturday declared it will not permit the Left government to hike power tariffs in the state, attributing the 'crisis in the power sector' to mismanagement and corruption.

Citing the cancellation of a 25-year contract signed during their tenure, the Congress alleged that the crisis stems from this decision. The contract secured electricity at Rs 4.29 per unit, said Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan during a press briefing.

Satheesan accused the CPI (M)-led LDF government and the Regulatory Commission of working together to terminate the contract, claiming that the Chief Minister’s office is implicated in the corruption while Power Minister K Krishnankutty remains uninformed.

He argued that the government aims to transfer the financial burden to the public, warning that the Congress will oppose any tariff increases. Post-cancellation, electricity costs have surged to Rs eight to Rs 12 per unit, resulting in a daily loss of Rs 10 to 12 crores, and a total loss of at least Rs 2000 crores, Satheesan alleged. He demanded accountability for the financial damages caused by the contract's cancellation and insisted that tariff hikes remain unacceptable.