The Enforcement Directorate’s raids at premises linked to Veena Vijayan, daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have triggered not only a political storm in the state but also violent protests led by CPIM workers across parts of Kerala.
Latest reports from Tiruvananthapuram suggest that 19 CPM activists have so far been arrested in connection with the anti-ED violence that erupted on May 27. Police have registered cases against nearly 200 identifiable CPM workers participated in severe attacks and rioting against ED during their raids. There are also reports that police team are conducting raids at the residences of those identified in the violence.
However, despite the arrests, no cases have yet been registered against the leaders who mobilised or led the protests. Questions are also being raised over the absence of any investigation into whether there was a larger conspiracy behind the coordinated attacks on the central agency.
The developments have reignited a broader political debate within Kerala:
What exactly is Veena Vijayan’s position within the CPM power structure?
Political observers have drawn comparisons with the case involving Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of former CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. Bineesh was arrested in a drug-related case and spent nearly a year in Bengaluru jail between October 29, 2020, and October 29, 2021.
At the time, the CPM did not organise protests or target investigating agencies. In fact, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan publicly distanced himself from his son’s legal troubles, stating that the party could not be held responsible for the actions of adult children of its leaders.
He also maintained that his son should face the legal process independently. Soon afterwards, Kodiyeri stepped aside from his party position, citing health reasons.
From Kodiyeri to Pinarayi: How CPM Responded Differently When Leaders’ Children Faced Investigations
The contrast with the present situation has become a major talking point in Kerala politics. Critics argue that the CPM leadership is now treating any action against Veena Vijayan as a direct attack on the party itself, blurring the line between the organisation and the family of its top leader.
Opposition voices further claim that the party’s institutional mechanisms — committees, secretariats, and collective decision-making structures — have weakened over time, giving rise to what they describe as an increasingly centralised and family-centric political culture.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has remained largely silent on both the ED raids and the subsequent violence by CPM workers. According to opposition leaders and sections of the media, the Chief Minister has repeatedly avoided questions related to the issue during media interactions.
While addressing reporters on May 29, however, Vijayan clarified that he himself had not been interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate. His statement has drawn attention because several CPM leaders and protesters had earlier claimed that the Chief Minister had been questioned by the agency, using it to justify the protests against the ED.
The Chief Minister did acknowledge that Veena Vijayan’s bank account had been frozen, though he maintained that only one account had been affected, contrary to media reports suggesting multiple accounts had come under scrutiny.
