Thiruvananthapuram: As the power crisis lingers and supply restrictions continue, political parties are seeking to eke out political mileage from the situation. While the Congress-led UDF has blamed the former LDF govt for the shortage, the CPM-led LDF has countered that the long-term power purchase agreement was cancelled by the regulatory commission because the UDF govt failed to follow the prescribed procedures. The BJP, meanwhile, has alleged that both the UDF and LDF are responsible for the crisis.The CPM held protest programmes across the state on Saturday against the restrictions while BJP will take out marches to KSEB offices on Saturday and Sunday.The political blame game was triggered by repeated assertions from chief minister V D Satheesan and electricity minister Sunny Joseph that the former LDF govt was solely responsible for the present crisis.The CPM state secretariat, which discussed the restrictions and the state govt’s narrative on the issue, has decided to counter the charge. According to a statement issued by the party, the LDF govt had done everything possible to keep alive the long-term power purchase agreement for 465 MW at ₹4.29 per unit for 25 years.The state electricity regulatory commission had refused to ratify the agreement, citing procedural violations, the statement said. The CPM argues that had the UDF govt followed the prescribed rules and regulations, the commission would not have cancelled the agreement. It also alleges that the UDF govt subsequently failed to revive the deal.The BJP has a different view. According to the party, the electricity regulatory commission appointed by the Pinarayi Vijayan govt worked in tandem with the LDF govt and the cancellation of the agreement may have been a joint decision. BJP national executive member Kummanam Rajasekharan has asked Satheesan to order an inquiry into the alleged conspiracy behind the cancellation.The agreement was signed when Aryadan Mohammed was the power minister and M Sivasankar was KSEB chairman and managing director. Keralam was the first state to sign the agreement after Centre announced the scheme. Its termination disrupted the state’s long-term power procurement plans.The then commission chairman, T M Manoharan, initially deferred clearance for the agreement. The commission, later headed by Preman Dinarajan, sat on the agreement and it was formally rejected by the commission chaired by T K Jose in 2023. The LDF govt initially agreed to the findings but later sought a reversal after a severe monsoon failure led to a power deficit. Though the commission subsequently revoked its order, generators refused to revive the agreement after its unilateral cancellation.Senior KSEB officials do not believe that the cancellation of the agreement was the sole reason for the present crisis. According to them, the shortage is part of a larger power crisis across the country, caused in part by the non-availability of coal following heavy rains.
