Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s political climate is heating up over the Sabarimala gold heist investigation, and CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s tight‑lipped stance has become a hot topic statewide.
Two loyal allies of his—former Travancore Devaswom Board presidents A. Padmakumar and N. Vasu—have been jailed after the High Court‑appointed Special Investigation Team’s arrests, yet the Chief Minister remains deliberately silent, refusing to speak to the press or offer any explanation.
Padmakumar, once a powerful confidant of Vijayan and a former legislator, served as Board President when the temple’s gold‑plated panels were reportedly removed for replating, allegedly skipping all proper procedures.
Vasu, another former CPI(M) leader who twice headed the Board, faces charges of criminal misconduct and breach of trust.
Both leaders were close to Vijayan and stood by him during past intra‑party clashes.
On Tuesday, opposition leader V.D. Satheesan directly accused Vijayan and CPI‑M state secretary M.V. Govindan of shielding the accused.
“Padmakumar stood like a rock behind Vijayan during his feud with V.S. Achuthanandan. Some are scared to act because they fear where the probe might lead,” the Congress leader alleged.
Political observers point out that Vijayan’s refusal to respond—even as the investigation dives deeper—is consistent with his media strategy since 2016.
Shortly after taking office, he scrapped the weekly cabinet briefing and has only addressed the press on major occasions such as government awards, election victories, or personal vindications.
Unlike his predecessors, he tends to get defensive when reporters probe him in informal settings.
As the SIT broadens its probe and public scrutiny sharpens, Vijayan’s silence—once considered a tactical restraint—is now viewed as a potential political risk.
With the gold‑plunder case inching toward the party’s core, Kerala watches to see whether quiet can still serve as a shield, especially as local body polls are slated for two weeks from now.
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