Political Sparks Fly Over Kerala's Masala Bond Controversy

Kerala's political scene heats up as Opposition Leader V.D. Satheeshan accuses the central government of using the Enforcement Directorate’s notice as a tactic to harass the state’s leadership. Allegations of corruption tied to Masala Bonds surface amidst claims of political maneuvering before the forthcoming assembly elections.

The political tensions in Kerala have escalated, with Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheeshan alleging that the recently issued show-cause notice by the Enforcement Directorate against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is a mere scare tactic by the BJP. Satheeshan argues that this move is aimed at benefiting the BJP during the assembly election season.

Highlighting past allegations, Satheeshan criticized the London trips as public relations stunts, contending that the Masala Bond controversy is among the most serious corruption charges against the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government. He questioned the timing, suggesting the notices are politically motivated and merely a means to harass the Chief Minister and the CPM.

Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan echoed these sentiments, labeling the notices a ploy to pressure the Left Democratic Front government into adopting a pro-BJP stance before the elections. The Enforcement Directorate had served notices over alleged violations concerning external commercial borrowings related to KIIFB's issuance of Masala Bonds, underlining ongoing scrutiny of Kerala's leadership.

(With inputs from agencies.)