Keralam Assembly: Opposition LDF, ruling UDF trade barbs over power situation

The Keralam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) witnessed heated exchanges between the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government and the Opposition CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) over monsoon season power cuts and a dropped long-term power purchase deal.

Blaming the power crisis on the “inefficiency” of the five-month-old UDF government, the Opposition staged a walkout after its demand that the House adjourn the day’s business and discuss the issue was rejected.

Moving the adjournment motion, G.R. Anil of the Communist Party of India (CPI) alleged that the crisis was artificially created with the knowledge of the government to pave the way for power sector corporates to enter the State’s power sector.

Power policy to be floated: CM

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan assured that the State-run Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which manages power generation, transmission and distribution within Keralam, would be maintained in the public sector. He also promised the House that the KSEB would be transformed into the “best institution” and that his government intended to float a power policy aimed at addressing the long-term needs of the State.

The basis of the Opposition’s charges lay in the unprecedented monsoon-season power crisis in September, which forced the KSEB to impose power curbs in the evening hours.

The Opposition accused the government of viewing the power situation lightly and failing to take adequate precautions despite indications of a potential crisis in May and June. The 10 years of LDF rule in the State was devoid of power curbs, the Opposition said, blaming the Congress’s “neoliberal policies” for creating power crises whenever it was ruling in the State.

On its part, the government attributed the crisis to increased consumption, weak southwest monsoon rainfall, absence of long-term power purchase agreements and low availability of electricity at the national level. Compared to 2025 September, 2026 September power demand shot up by 1,200 MW, or 26%, against the average year-on-year increase of 3% to 4%, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said.

Despite this increase in consumption, the previous LDF government had added only approximately 150 MW in the hydropower sector, the mainstay of Keralam’s internal generation, he said. Mr. Joseph said that the government is successfully addressing the shortage and that October has been free of powercuts.

War of words over 465-MW deal

The ruling UDF also reiterated its charge that the cancellation of a clutch of contracts totalling 465 MW during LDF rule had exacerbated the power crisis. The 25-year power purchase deal on design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) mode had assured supply to Keralam for 25 years at ₹4.29 per unit. Citing deviations in procedures, the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) had in 2023 declined to clear the contracts.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan countered the UDF charge stating that the Commission had initially declined to clear them when the 2011-2016 UDF government (led by Oommen Chandy) was in power. The panel had merely finalised its decision in 2023, he said. If the then UDF government had adhered to procedures, the contracts would not have been cancelled, Mr. Vijayan said.

As the State’s plea for getting the contracts restored was before the Supreme Court now, the UDF government should see to it that the case is taken forward efficiently, he said.

The UDF accused the previous LDF government of orchestrating the cancellation. Mr. Satheesan also blamed the LDF failing to replace the cancelled contracts with a comparable long-term contract. Over the next five years, Keralam would need to add at least 5,000 MW. The UDF government was in talks with NTPC Ltd for a long-term contract, he said.