With election heat building up in Kerala, the CPI(M) is pushing the narrative that both the Congress and the BJP have played equal roles in causing the energy crisis currently faced by the country. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the policies adopted by successive Union governments, led by the Congress and the BJP, which aligned with American interests, have contributed to the severe energy crisis India is currently facing. “The war situation in West Asia has further aggravated this crisis, pushing the country’s energy security into uncertainty,” he said.
The chief minister also said that the decision in 2006 to withdraw from the India–Iran gas pipeline project was a historic mistake that ignored the country’s long-term interests.
The CPI(M) has, on various occasions, criticised Union governments for abandoning the ambitious Iran-India gas pipeline project. Back in 2007—after India voted against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency, siding with the US—the CPI(M) had demanded that the Government of India repair ties with Iran. The party had also asked the then UPA government to “review its shortsighted and harmful policy towards Iran.”
Reiterating this position, Vijayan said that the gas pipeline project was abandoned under American pressure. “It was solely because he supported the India–Iran gas pipeline that the then Union Petroleum Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, was removed from his post in 2006 by the Congress leadership,” he said.
Notably, Aiyar, who is closer to the CPI(M) leadership, recently praised the chief minister and said that Vijayan would return to power once again.
The chief minister alleged that pro-corporate interests influenced the UPA government’s decision to replace Aiyar. “The Congress replaced Aiyar with Murli Deora, who was seen as being close to corporate interests, as Petroleum Minister. The subsequent policy shifts did not strengthen India’s energy self-reliance but instead paved the way for a corporate-centric approach,” he said.
Vijayan added that the current BJP government has also given disproportionate importance and concessions to a private energy company. “It has also emerged that a new oil refining approval in the United States—granted after decades—has gone to an Indian private company. Even in the matter of purchasing oil from Russia, India appears to be yielding to American pressure. This reflects a policy approach that prioritises corporate and international alignments over national interests,” he said.
He further noted that excessive dependence on international markets has resulted in rising fuel prices and supply uncertainties. “Service sectors, including hotels, are facing serious impacts. Even in such a grave situation, the lack of proactive measures by the central government—such as increasing strategic reserves, strengthening domestic production, or ensuring diversified energy sources—is deeply concerning,” he added.
Congress alleges BJP-CPI(M) nexus
Meanwhile, the Congress leadership has alleged “adjustment politics” between the CPI(M) and the BJP in Kerala. Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan has triggered controversy by making such a claim, citing the CPI(M)’s candidate selection in the Palakkad constituency, where the contest is primarily between the BJP and the UDF.
In a TV interview, Satheesan said the CPI(M) fielded its candidate, N.M.R. Razak—a businessman from a minority community—to split the UDF vote base and thereby help the BJP, which has fielded its firebrand candidate, Sobha Surendran. He also suggested that, in return, the BJP could help the CPI(M) in around ten seats. The Opposition leader further alleged that in several other constituencies, the BJP-led NDA has fielded weak candidates to benefit the CPI(M). Meanwhile, the BJP has rejected these allegations, suggesting that the Opposition leader’s claims are a pre-emptive excuse for a potential UDF loss in Palakkad.
