‘My hands are clean’: Pinarayi Vijayan denies family hawala link amid ED probe
Source Entity
The Indian Express
Former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan is facing internal LDF friction over the Deputy Leader of the Opposition post while simultaneously navigating a widening Enforcement Directorate probe. Simultaneously, he has launched a sharp critique against the UDF government regarding their handling of student protests and higher education policy.
Political Turbulence in Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan Under Pressure
Internal LDF Friction Over Legislative Leadership
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is currently navigating a period of internal discord as Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam have publicly clashed over the position of Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly. On August 22, 2026, Vijayan asserted that the role belongs to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), effectively dismissing the aspirations of the CPI, the alliance's second-largest constituent. This public disagreement underscores a growing rift within the coalition, with Viswam emphasizing that the CPI’s self-respect is not a negotiable commodity.
Legal Challenges and Allegations of Corruption
Simultaneously, Pinarayi Vijayan is contending with intensified scrutiny from federal agencies. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has expanded its probe into alleged illegal payments involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and an IT firm linked to Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena. Further complicating matters, the ED conducted searches across eight premises in Kozhikode—the home region of his son-in-law, former minister Mohammed Riyas. In response to these developments, Vijayan has maintained his innocence, publicly stating that his hands are clean and denying any involvement of his family members in hawala transactions.
Criticizing the UDF’s Higher Education Policy
Beyond internal coalition struggles and legal battles, Vijayan has adopted an aggressive stance against the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) government. He has accused the administration of allowing Sangh Parivar influence to permeate Kerala’s higher education sector. According to Vijayan, the sector is in a state of crisis, with the government failing to address critical infrastructure and administrative deficiencies while opting to suppress student dissent.
Focus on Sree Sankaracharya University Unrest
A central point of contention in Vijayan’s critique is the recent unrest at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady. He alleges that the government is criminalizing student activism by filing false cases against those who protest against poor institutional management. Furthermore, he has expressed deep concern over the intervention of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who reportedly summoned the State Police Chief to initiate action against the protesting students, an act Vijayan views as an overreach of executive authority.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The convergence of these issues—legislative infighting, corruption allegations, and ideological battles over the education sector—presents a significant challenge to the CPI(M)’s influence in Kerala. The friction with the CPI risks fracturing the LDF, while the ongoing ED probe threatens to undermine Vijayan’s public image. As the political climate in the state remains volatile, the outcome of these disputes will likely dictate the strength of the opposition front and the trajectory of Kerala’s political landscape in the coming months.
Multiple Citing Sources