Vijayan questions Chief Minister over power purchase agreement, demands disclosure of all files

Thiruvananthapuram's Opposition Leader Pinrayi Vijayan on Saturday accused Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan of creating confusion regarding a controversial power purchase agreement with the GNA platform. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Vijayan has demanded the disclosure of all files and correspondence related to this agreement.

In a statement, Vijayan stated that instead of providing clarity on the agreement, the Chief Minister is attempting to evade serious allegations. He questioned why the government is hesitant to make the complete files on this matter public. Vijayan added that the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had sent recommendations to the government after conducting technical and financial evaluations of a proposal to purchase electricity from Himachal Pradesh. The departmental minister had also supported Himachal's proposal following official discussions.

The Opposition Leader questioned on what basis the Chief Minister decided to accept GNA Energy's offer despite the objections of KSEB and the views of the departmental minister. He further asked whether KSEB had informed the government that GNA's offer would lead to significant financial loss and whether a detailed report had been prepared by the Chief Engineer in this regard. Challenging the Chief Minister, Vijayan asked why the relevant files and letters received by the government are not being fully disclosed if there is nothing to hide.

Vijayan also sought clarification on why the State Electricity Regulatory Commission stated that there was no need to purchase electricity at high rates during the period from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. He rejected the Chief Minister's claim that GNA could supply more electricity than Himachal Pradesh, stating that this contradicts KSEB's technical reports. He asked what evidence the government possesses to prove that GNA can supply electricity during peak hours.

Alleging irregularities, Vijayan said that GNA is neither a power generator nor a licensed electricity trader, but merely a digital platform; therefore, how did it acquire the right to sell electricity independently? He challenged the Chief Minister to produce records if any power purchase agreement was made without a tender or Regulatory Commission approval during the previous LDF government.

Questioning the decision to accept a direct offer without inviting tenders, Vijayan asked what emergency necessitated such a step. He pointed out that the market price was approximately ₹ 5 per unit, while the proposed purchase from GNA was made at ₹ 8.63 and ₹ 8.90 per unit. He has also sought an explanation for the increase from the rate of ₹ 8.48 mentioned in the initial file.

Referring to investigations into the company by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), he asked why an attempt was made to purchase electricity from this company at high rates without an open tender process. Vijayan alleged that an attempt has been made to embezzle public funds by artificially creating a power crisis through this agreement. He has demanded the disclosure of all files and cabinet notes to establish the truth.

This statement follows claims by Chief Minister Satheesan, who had rejected Vijayan's allegations. Satheesan had previously stated that the decision was taken only after considering the state's interests and examining all aspects. He said that Vijayan's allegations of interference in the power purchase decision and the creation of an artificial power crisis are factually incorrect.