ED raids on Pinarayi’s houses: CPI(M) closes ranks in support of former Kerala CM - The HinduUpdated - May 27, 2026 10:29 am IST - ThiruvananthapuramCPI(M) MP John Brittas | Photo Credit: ANIThe Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) closed ranks in support of former Kerala Chief Minister and the party’s senior Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids early in the day. CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Babu condemned the raids on X. He termed the ED raid at the residences of Mr Vijayan in Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram as part of an anti-money laundering investigation into the CMRL-Exalogic alleged political payoff case involving the former Chief Minister’s daughter, T. Veena, as a “targeted attack on an Opposition Leader by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government.”Mr Baby said neither the CPI(M) nor Mr Vijayan would be intimidated or cowed by the BJP’s attempt to use the ED as the Central government’s catspaw to “target” Opposition figures.Mr Baby sought to draw the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government into the controversy by asking on X whether: “Is the UDF government complicit in the raid?” Brittas slams raidsCommunist Party of India (Marxist) central secretariat member, John Brittas, MP, has strongly condemned the ED raids. The CPI(M) leadership in Kerala also pivoted to assail the Congress and the BJP as “covert partners in the national scheme to target Opposition leaders”.CPI(M) district secretary, Kannur, K K Rajesh, told reporters that the Congress served the BJP’s “political purpose” in New Delhi by falsely accusing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of corruption in the issuance of liquor licences.He said the BJP used the Congress’ insinuations as a political lever to arrest and incarcerate a serving Chief Minister on trumped-up charges of corruption. However, the Central government’s case against Mr Kejriwal came to nought with the Supreme Court finding that there was no “iota of evidence” to prosecute the former New Delhi Chief Minister. CPI(M) State committee member P. Jayarajan told reporters in Kannur that the Congress had resorted to a similar tactic against Mr Vijayan in Kerala. He said the Congress, including its national leadership, was handwringing during the 2026 Assembly elections campaign over the “ED’s delay” in arresting Mr Vijayan and his family, and alleged a “CPI(M)-BJP nexus.” Meanwhile, CPI(M) workers thronged in front of Mr Vijayan’s residences in Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram, expressing solidarity with the former Chief Minister. CPI(M) workers also turned out in front of MLA and former Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas’ residence in Kozhikode in his support.Published - May 27, 2026 09:38 am ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }