Kerala on Indian Politics

ED summons former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on 23 October

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:06:18 +0530

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to appear at its zonal office in Kochi on 23 October 2026 in connection with the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL)-Exalogic payments, according to Hindustan Times and The Indian Express. The Indian Express reported that the summons came hours after the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on his plea against a Kerala High Court order for an FIR. Hindustan Times, citing officials familiar with the matter, said it is the first time the agency has summoned him in the case.

Supreme Court may set up bench in Dussehra break to hear Pinarayi Vijayan's FIR plea

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:06:09 +0530

The Supreme Court on Friday, 16 October 2026, did not grant an urgent hearing to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s plea against a Kerala High Court order directing that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered in the CMRL-Exalogic case, according to Hindustan Times and The Indian Express. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said it may constitute a bench during the Dussehra vacation, and otherwise hear the matter when the court reopens on 26 October.

Kerala High Court dismisses leave to appeal against FIR order in CMRL-Exalogic case

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:05:55 +0530

The Kerala High Court on Thursday, 15 October 2026, dismissed applications by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and her husband, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, seeking leave to appeal against a Single Judge’s direction to register a First Information Report (FIR) against them in the CMRL-Exalogic case, according to The Hindu, LiveLaw and The New Indian Express.

President Murmu appoints new Governors for Keralam, Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim and Uttarakhand

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:06:20 +0530

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, 12 October 2026, appointed Governors for six states, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique reported by The Hindu and The Indian Express.

The appointments

Tamil Nadu: Rajendra Arlekar, who had held additional charge of Tamil Nadu alongside Keralam, becomes full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Keralam: O.P. Mathur, until now Governor of Sikkim, is appointed Governor of Keralam in place of Mr Arlekar.
Karnataka: Sudha Yadav is appointed Governor, replacing Thawarchand Gahlot, according to The Hindu.
Odisha: Braj Mohan Ram (spelt “Brij Mohan Ram” by The Hindu) is appointed Governor.
Uttarakhand: Dhal Singh Bisen is appointed Governor.
Sikkim: Dushyant Gautam is appointed Governor.

Background of the appointees

According to The Hindu, Ms Yadav is a former Lok Sabha member from Mahendragarh, Haryana (1999–2004), and was a member of the BJP’s Parliamentary Board from August 2022 until the new team under party president Nitin Nabin took charge. Mr Ram was a Lok Sabha member for Palamau, Jharkhand, between 1996 and 2004. Mr Bisen is a former MP from Madhya Pradesh and has served as a minister in the state government. Mr Gautam is a former Rajya Sabha member and served as BJP general secretary under J.P. Nadda’s presidency. The Hindu reports that Mr Bisen succeeds Lt. Gen. (retd) Gurmeet Singh, whose five-year term in Uttarakhand ended in September.

Keralam Assembly passes resolution seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; BJP opposes

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 15:06:46 +0530

The Keralam Legislative Assembly on Monday, 12 October 2026, passed a resolution seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, according to The Hindu and PTI. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan moved it. Reports describe it as the first such resolution by a state Assembly.

Kerala vigilance bureau registers two FIRs in CMRL-Exalogic case naming Pinarayi Vijayan

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:08:14 +0530

Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registered two first information reports (FIRs) on Monday, 12 October 2026, in the CMRL-Exalogic case, naming former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas as accused, according to The Hindu, The New Indian Express and The Federal. The FIRs are registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. An FIR records allegations for investigation; it is not a finding of guilt, and those named have not been convicted of anything.