CPI-M wears a smile, but ED cloud hangs over Vijayan camp
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 15 (IANS) The CPI-M leadership has put up a smiling face as its extended three-day Kerala state committee meeting ended here on Tuesday, but the proceedings have left little doubt that the party is still grappling with the political fallout of its electoral debacle. And, before the leadership could fully close ranks, the Enforcement Directorate investigation involving former Chief Minister and Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayans family added a fresh layer of uncertainty. The timing could hardly have been more uncomfortable for the party. The day the state committee meeting concluded began with television channels flashing details of the 25-page report sent by the ED to the state police chief in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case and alleged hawala transactions involving Vijayans daughter T. Veena and her husband and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas. The allegations have been denied, but the political impact of the revelations could prove harder to contain than the legal questions themselves. The state committee meeting was convened in the aftermath of the partys electoral rout, which saw the CPI-M-led LDF reduced to a dramatically diminished force and forced the party leadership to confront questions over its style of functioning, political messaging and organisational weaknesses. The three-day deliberations were consequently watched for signs of a substantive course correction and, more importantly, whether responsibility for the setback would travel upwards. The leadership has sought to project unity. The two committees were slightly reconstituted, and the 307 delegates eventually joined the public meeting, where thousands of party workers and supporters had gathered. There was no visible sign of an organisation in disarray. But the ED investigation has changed the political equation in ways that cannot be settled through organisational restructuring alone. Riyas, who was present at the public meeting, appeared confident when asked about the allegations. Dismissing the media revelations, he said: No wrong has been done at all. His assertion reflects the line the leadership is likely to maintain as the investigation progresses. The larger question, however, is whether the ED probe will remain a legal battle for the individuals concerned or evolve into another political liability for a party already struggling to recover from its electoral collapse. For Vijayan, the stakes are particularly high. He has so far maintained silence on the outcome of the state committee meeting even as questions over the ED findings increasingly hover over his political legacy. For Riyas and Veena too, the unfolding investigation could become a prolonged political burden. The CPI-M may have succeeded in ending its three-day exercise with a show of confidence, but whether that confidence survives the next phase of the ED onslaught will remain the real test.
People should come forward to guide CPI(M): Baby
Party national general secretary says people should point out its mistakes, aberrations, and confusions at a public rally marking culmination of CPI(M)s extended State committee meet in Kozhikode
Vallathaikkadavu bridge to open to traffic next week
The new bridge is expected to ease travel through the hilly agricultural areas of eastern Kozhikode
Pinarayi Vijayan era under fire as CPI(M) meet on Kerala poll debacle reaches its sharpest point
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 15 (IANS) The CPI(M)s extended state committee meeting entered its concluding day on Tuesday with the party facing an unusually open and sharp internal questioning of the leadership style that has dominated Kerala for nearly three decades, with former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan clearly at the centre of the criticism. The three-day meeting, convened to review the Lefts crushing electoral defeat, has witnessed an unprecedented degree of criticism from district committees and delegates. Much of it has been directed, directly or indirectly, at the style of functioning that evolved around Vijayan, who first became state secretary in 1998 and remained in that position until 2014 before serving as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2026. The Kollam district committee reportedly bluntly linked the decline of communist parties elsewhere in the world to the arrogance of their leaders, while the Kannur committee said the decade of LDF rule had weakened the organisation. The 2026 Assembly election campaign claims that there was no alternative to the LDF, was also criticised as having worked against the party. The criticism assumes added significance because the Central Committee report itself had acknowledged serious organisational and political shortcomings. Delegates have demanded that the party should make its mistakes and the corrective measures it proposes to take clear to both the people and its cadre. Though Vijayan has not been the principal speaker in the discussions, the thrust of the criticism is unmistakably linked to the political style associated with him. State secretary M.V. Govindan has also come under criticism, particularly over the party organisation and its failure to arrest the electoral decline. All eyes are now on Govindans reply to the discussions. His response is expected to indicate how the state leadership intends to address the unusually candid criticism without allowing the debate to turn into an open leadership challenge. The political reality, however, appears to favour continuity. Despite the intensity of the criticism, there is little indication that the meeting is preparing the ground for an immediate change at the top. A dramatic leadership change involving either Vijayan or Govindan would require a major political intervention that does not appear imminent. For now, the focus is on whether Govindan can acknowledge the concerns raised by the delegates, defend the leadership where necessary and offer a credible course correction. The extended state committee will conclude with a massive public rally in Kozhikode in the evening. The party has claimed that over a lakh people will participate. The rally may provide the leadership an opportunity to project unity. But the debate inside the meeting has already ensured that the question of the Vijayan era and its legacy can no longer be kept outside the partys post-poll reckoning.
CMRL-Exalogic case: Reports say Veena's diary has 'hawala' details, Riyas trashes claims
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 15 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorates latest revelations in the CMRL-Exalogic case, that surfaced in the media on Tuesday, showing some purported documents allegedly containing pages of a diary linked to Veena Vijayan, rattled the CPI(M), which is holding a three-day convention in Kerala. The EDs 25-page communication to the State Police Chief, details of which were out in the media, on the concluding day of the three-day CPI(M) meeting, alleges that documents seized from the rented residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter T. Veena contain evidence of money laundering and that hawala channels were used to transfer money abroad. The reports mentioned that the agency has also alleged that the former Minister and Veenas husband, P.A. Mohammed Riyas, had a role in the transactions. A 16-member WhatsApp group, comprising Riyass staff, friends and associates, was used in connection with hawala transactions. One number in the group was reportedly saved as Minister Riyas. The reports said that the agency has also purportedly identified a Koduvally native in the group whom it suspects of involvement in hawala operations. It is alleged that Veena and Riyas travelled together to Dubai, including in May 2024, as part of efforts to move money and establish a benami garment business in Veenas name. Notes allegedly written by Veena, seized during a May 27 raid at the residence in Thiruvananthapuram where she had stayed with Pinarayi Vijayan, have also been cited in the reports. The ED claims Veena acknowledged that she had written the notes, according to the reports. The disclosures could hardly have come at a more politically sensitive moment for the CPI(M). The extended state committee meeting was convened primarily to examine the Lefts crushing poll defeat and its drastic loss of political ground. The timing of the purported ED revelations has therefore added another layer of embarrassment to a party already under pressure to explain the electoral debacle. The mood was palpable on Tuesday morning when CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby and state Secretary M.V. Govindan emerged to proceed to the meeting venue. Both leaders maintained stoic silence when confronted with questions on the fresh allegations and walked away without responding. Riyas, however, launched an unusually sharp counterattack, dismissing the reports as a deliberately scripted campaign to tarnish his and his familys image. If this is important evidence, would it be released in this manner? he asked, rejecting as completely false propaganda the claim that Veena had admitted that the money involved was black money. Riyas said Veena had been questioned three times and that the ED had not asked her a single question about hawala transactions. He questioned the timing of the disclosures, pointing out that they emerged on the very day the CPI(M)s extended state committee meeting concluded. Describing the allegations as a precisely written script, Riyas said those behind it deserved the National Award for Best Screenplay. He maintained that he would fight the allegations legally and was not afraid. The EDs allegations and Riyass counterattack have now ensured that an issue the CPI(M) leadership may have hoped to keep outside the partys poll-debacle deliberations has become an unavoidable political talking point. More importantly, Riyas is a member of the power state secretariat committee, the crucial body of the state party unit.
Poll debacle puts Kerala CPI-M leadership under scrutiny
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 14 (IANS) The CPI-M's three-day extended Kerala State Committee meeting has witnessed unusually sharp criticism and self-criticism of both the central and state leaderships following the partys electoral defeat, state Secretary M.V. Govindan openly acknowledged on Monday, signalling an intense internal effort to find a way out of the political and organisational crisis confronting the party. Govindan said the leadership was not surprised by the criticism and made it clear that even he had come under attack during the discussions. Asked about it, he said criticism was an essential part of party functioning. If there is no criticism against me, how can I be a party leader? If there is no criticism of me, then what kind of conference is this? All of us need to correct ourselves. Through such corrections, the party will become stronger, he said. The discussions are being held entirely behind closed doors among 307 delegates, essentially the top brass of the CPI-M in Kerala. Nineteen members had participated in the discussions by Monday, with the meeting specifically convened to undertake a self-critical assessment of the reasons for the election defeat. The discussions have also produced a series of proposals aimed at rebuilding the party and countering the growing influence of the RSS. The CPI-M has decided to develop a dedicated mobile app for party education and immediate clarification of doubts among workers. It has also decided to make party workers more active at places of worship and intervene to ensure that festivals and celebrations remain public practices rather than becoming platforms for the RSS. The party plans an in-depth study of the right-wing shift and intends to strengthen its presence in new media. The leadership has also acknowledged the growing disconnect between party workers and the people, with branch and area committees being asked to intervene more effectively in people's day-to-day issues. Govindan said the party would take stringent action against leaders involved in unauthorised accumulation of wealth. A suggestion has also emerged for a broad national alliance to resist the moves of central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate. For the CPI-M, the three-day exercise marks an unusually serious attempt to respond to a defeat that has left the party searching for a way out of a difficult political situation. The meeting concludes on Tuesday. It remains to be seen whether the exercise will end with routine organisational conclusions or result in concrete changes in the partys leadership and functioning.
Ideological clarity may soon be a just a tap away for CPI(M) cadre in Keralam
Launching of web/mobile applications to clear doubts among the suggestions put forward by delegates at the extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode
CPI(M)s extended Keralam State committee meet begins in Kozhikode
Open debate on a draft report prepared by the State committee on the problems plaguing the party gets under way
MalaysianPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meets Kanthapuram
The Prime Minister, who arrived in Kozhikode after attending the BRICS summit in New Delhi, held discussions with Kanthapuram on issues including global peace, education and social development
Admit Chandrasekharan murder as an irreparable mistake, K.K. Rema demands CPI(M)
Her remarks come against the backdrop of CPI(M)s extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode, convened to review the partys political and organisational shortcomings
M.A. Baby blames creation of false perception for CPI(M)s debacle in Keralam
We should have been more alert in exposing and defeating the narrative, M.A. Baby said while opening the partys three-day extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode
Drug-induced gang rape: Four accused remanded in judicial custody in Kozhikode
The custody of the accused will be sought for a detailed interrogation as the police suspect the involvement of more persons in the incident
CPI(M) to Review Assembly Election Losses in Three-Day Meeting in Kozhikode
CPI(M) begins a three-day meeting in Kozhikode to assess losses from recent assembly elections and strategize for future improvements. CPI(M) to Review Assembly Election Losses in Three-Day Meeting in Kozhikode
CPI(M) extended state committee to conduct post-poll review from today
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 13 (IANS) The CPI(M)s extended Kerala State Committee will begin a three-day meeting in Kozhikode on Sunday to conduct a comprehensive political and organisational review following the partys major defeat in the recent Assembly elections. CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby will inaugurate the meeting at the AKG Auditorium attached to the partys district committee office. The deliberations are expected to examine the political, ideological and organisational factors that contributed to the electoral setback and identify measures needed to rebuild the party. The meeting comes at a crucial stage as the CPI(M) attempts to regain political direction, strengthen its grassroots machinery and reconnect with voters. The leadership is expected to undertake a critical and self-critical assessment of the partys functioning, extending beyond the immediate reasons for the defeat to the deeper weaknesses exposed during the election. The discussions are also likely to focus on the partys political messaging, campaign strategy, organisational coordination and ability to understand changing public expectations. Corrective measures aimed at improving communication between the leadership, party units and the public could figure prominently. As many as 307 delegates will participate in the meeting. Kerala-based Politburo members M.A. Baby, Pinarayi Vijayan, M.V. Govindan and A. Vijayaraghavan will attend. Five other Politburo members -- K. Balakrishnan, B.V. Raghavulu, Ashok Dhawale, Viju Krishnan and U. Vasuki -- will participate as observers. Central Committee members from Kerala, State Secretariat and State Committee members, district secretariat members and office-bearers of affiliated organisations will also be present. Unlike its conventional review process, the CPI(M) began its assessment from the grassroots after the election results. Usually, the State Committee prepares the initial review and circulates it among lower committees for discussion. This time, however, the party first collected the views of organisational units at different levels. The CPI(M) also sought direct feedback from members of the public to understand the reasons behind its defeat and perceptions about the partys performance. Those responses, internal discussions and guidelines issued by the Central Committee were incorporated into the review report. The State Committee subsequently examined and approved the document. It was then circulated among party units for further discussion. The final report and feedback gathered during that exercise will form the basis of the three-day deliberations in Kozhikode.
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday confirmed that the issue of extradition of fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik did come up during discussions held with India on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit being held in New Delhi. In private discussions, of course, these engagements continue, Ibrahim, who held a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning, told NDTV in an exclusive interview while responding to a question on the whether the extradition issue came up for discussion during the meeting. We thought we should keep it very private to protect the interests of both nations. But we, of course, put it on the priority list for building trust and relationships between our countries, Ibrahim added. He noted that Malaysia needs to ensure the rule of law on the issue of extradition. We have some understanding of it (extradition demand), but we need to do it very cautiously, he said. Respect the rule of law and the importance of these bilateral relations. Controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik currently lives in Malaysia as a permanent resident while remaining a wanted fugitive in India on charges of hate speech and money laundering. He moved to Malaysia in 2016 after investigations against him and his network, including the Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV, were initiated by the Indian authorities. Naik was later granted permanent residency in Malaysia. A formal request has been submitted by India for his extradition and Malaysia has maintained that it will cooperate through established legal channels. The Malaysian PM also said that he does not agree with all the views of Kerala-based Islamic cleric Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliar, who recently stirred controversy with his remarks that women should remain confined to their homes and should not enter the public sphere. Ibrahim is scheduled to meet the cleric in Kozhikode on Sunday. The visiting PM said that he would tell the cleric to his face that Malaysia guarantees women equal rights. He also noted that Malaysia has more female students in their universities and highlighted that his wife is a medical doctor and their children, including the girls, have been given all the opportunities to study and to have freedom.
M.A. Baby to open CPI(M) extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode on September 13
The meeting aims to address recent electoral setbacks faced by the CPI(M)-led LDF, alongside discussions on the EDs investigations into former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Beypore MLA P.A. Mohamed Riyas.
Fund crunch puts Kozhikode Biological Park project hanging in the balance
The growing tourism prospects of Chakkittappara village prompted the previous State government to consider establishing a tiger safari park in the area. The decision to establish the park was taken on September 27, 2023, despite protests from a section of farmers and human rights activists.
Fund crunch puts Kozhikode Biological Park project hanging in the balance
The growing tourism prospects of Chakkittappara village prompted the previous State government to consider establishing a tiger safari park in the area. The decision to establish the park was taken on September 27, 2023, despite protests from a section of farmers and human rights activists.
CPI(M) to Analyze Election Losses Amid ED Controversy in Kozhikode Meeting
The CPI(M) will assess its recent electoral defeat while addressing the ED controversy surrounding former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. CPI(M) to Analyze Election Losses Amid ED Controversy in Kozhikode Meeting
Mananchira Ground in Kozhikode to host District Collectors readers collective
According to official sources, the event will be held at 8 a.m. on September 13. Anyone interested in reading can join the collective.
Malaysian Prime Ministers visit: stringent traffic restrictions in Kozhikode on September 13
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to arrive at the Kozhikode International Airport at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday. He will be at the Markaz from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m., where he will receive the first Excellence Award instituted by the Sheikh Abubakr Foundation.
Keralam's Karipur Airport To Use CER Fund For Neighbourhood Development
The Corporate Environmental Responsibility fund of the Kozhikode International Airport at Karipur will now be utilised for the development of areas surrounding the airport
'Attack on CPI-M, not me': Vijayan breaks silence on ED move
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 12 (IANS) Kerala's Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday broke his silence on the Enforcement Directorates move seeking registration of a corruption case against him, his daughter Veena Vijayan and son-in-law and former minister Mohammed Riyas, describing it as the latest in a decade-long onslaught against the CPI-M and alleging that central agencies were being used to politically target opponents. Meeting the media for the first time after the ED forwarded its 25-page letter to the state police chief seeking registration of a case over the CMRL-Exalogic transactions, Vijayan said the present move appeared to be a joint and combined operation targeting the Left following the change of government in the state. He questioned what he called a new ED narrative that the money received by Exalogic from CMRL was a gratification for favours allegedly extended to the company during his tenure as Chief Minister. Which of the two narratives is right? he asked, pointing out that the ED had also alleged that CMRL had suffered losses and had received undue benefits. If CMRL had suffered losses, he asked, how could it simultaneously have received undue benefits from the government? Vijayan maintained that he had done nothing as Chief Minister to benefit CMRL and challenged the investigating agencies to show evidence of any such favour. He recalled that a case filed by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan in 2024 raising allegations relating to the CMRL-Exalogic issue had failed to find merit in the allegations, and claimed that the Supreme Court too had given the issue a clean chit. Why again is the ED taking the same route? he asked, alleging that a new script was being prepared to implicate him. Vijayan said he had remained under attack since the CPI-M-led LDF came to power in 2016, with allegations surfacing even during the devastating floods and later over the gold smuggling case. Despite what he termed wild allegations, the people had returned the LDF to power in 2021, marking the first time a government had won a consecutive term in Kerala. But after the UDF came to power in 2026, he said, the nature of the attack had changed, with the ED now joining what he described as a coordinated campaign against the Left. He also rejected reports that Veena had admitted wrongdoings before the ED, calling the claim a blatant lie. Vijayan said central agencies were being used to haunt political adversaries and questioned Congress leaders in Kerala over similar criticism voiced by Karnataka Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar. This is not a personal attack on me. It is an attack on the CPI-M, he said, alleging that the RSS agenda was to finish off the party. Refusing to be cowed down, Vijayan said he would fight the matter legally and politically. He also cautioned that no one should assume they were outside the reach of the ED. The credibility of an agency is paramount. It should not be used to target people. At the moment, they are trying to terrorise people, he said. Vijayan said he decided to address the media after hearing of the EDs latest move while travelling, but had to postpone the press meet because of voice problems. His intervention comes on the eve of the extended CPI-M State Committee meeting, adding a new political dimension to a probe that has already put the former Chief Minister and his family under renewed scrutiny.
Back to my era: PT Usha revisits her iconic track days amid viral 80s trend
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Four decades after she became one of the defining faces of Indian athletics, legendary sprinter and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha took a nostalgic trip down memory lane on social media, sharing photographs from her track days as she joined the ongoing fascination with all things 1980s. Heard the 80s are trending again, so I thought Id take you back to my era, Usha captioned the post, accompanying it with photographs from the period that established her as one of Indias most celebrated athletes. These photographs provide a glimpse of the time when Usha, famously known as the Payyoli Express, was setting new records on the track. She participated in three Olympic Games: Moscow in 1980, Los Angeles in 1984, and Seoul in 1988, and made history as the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic athletics final. In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she narrowly missed winning a medal in the 400m hurdles, finishing fourth. Her accomplishments went far beyond the Olympics. Usha secured India's first athletics medal at the 1982 Asian Games and then shined at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, claiming four gold medals. Ushas journey didn't conclude after she left competitive athletics. She transitioned into sports administration, dedicating herself to fostering the next wave of Indian athletes. Additionally, she has been involved with the Usha School of Athletics, an institution committed to developing young track-and-field talent in Kozhikode, Kerala. Her public profile grew in 2022 when she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. In December, she was elected unopposed as president of IOA, making her the first woman to lead the nation's top Olympic organisation. Usha remains in the IOAs leadership position as the organisation gears up for a significant governance transition ahead of the upcoming elections later this year. Her current duties go well beyond the athletics track, covering the management and representation of Indian sports at major international events. The 80s trend has gained renewed popularity on social media recently, with users exploring the decade through vintage photos, fashion, music, and pop culture icons. Instead of just reminiscing, this trend repurposes old photographs to help younger users, who mostly know the era through archives and nostalgia, reconnect with that period. For Usha, however, the 1980s are not merely a retro aesthetic. They represent the years in which she established herself as a trailblazer, a legacy she has carried from the track into Indian sports administration.
ExtendedState Committeemeeting, scheduled to begin inKozhikodeon Sunday, may initiate measures to bring in greater transparency and accountabilityon the part of the leadership, says a party leader. The style of functioning of the party could change from high-voltage events to home visits and neighbourhood gatherings. District committee members are likely to be tasked with overseeing and guiding local and branch committees
Youth in Keralams Kozhikode held for alleged bid to record visuals from hospital toilet
The man had reportedly arrived at the hospital as an attendant to his father, who was undergoing treatment
CPMs Kozhikode Meet: Crisis Talks After Historic Defeat
CPMs Kerala state committee will meet in Kozhikode amid calls for introspection and reform following the Lefts defeat after a decade in power.
Ghost net kills another humpback dolphin on Kozhikode coast
Necropsy confirms that it had starved to death after ingesting the fishing net
Wild gaur attacks motorist in Keralams Kozhikode
The incident comes days after death of a 40-year-old in a gaur attack at Vilangad
CPI(M)s extended Keralam State committee meeting in Kozhikode from Sept. 13
Party general secretary M.A. Baby will open the conference, Polit Bureau members to attend
IIM-Kozhikode rises 15 places to 54th in FT Masters in Management rankings
The achievement places IIM-Ks flagship postgraduate programme among the worlds top 55 management programmes
He was well known for Cholkkazhcha, a performance-cum-recital of Malayalam poems with acting and visual expressions, at cultural forums in Kozhikode
UDF, LDF declare candidates for Kuttichira bypoll in Kozhikode
The seat fell vacant after Fathima Thahiliya, the incumbent councillor belonging to the IUML, resigned from her post following her election to the Assembly from the Perambra constituency in 2026
UDF, LDF declare candidates for Kuttichira bypoll in Kozhikode
The seat fell vacant after Fathima Thahiliya, the incumbent councillor belonging to the IUML, resigned from her post following her election to the Assembly from the Perambra constituency in 2026
Kuttiyolum Collectorum launched in Kozhikode to foster students confidence
As part of the programme, the District Collector will interact with students from various schools every Wednesday
Kuttiyolum Collectorum launched in Kozhikode to foster students confidence
As part of the programme, the District Collector will interact with students from various schools every Wednesday
CPI(M) to fight ED move against Pinarayi Vijayan legally, politically
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8 (IANS) The CPI(M) in Kerala is gearing up to fight, both legally and politically, the Enforcement Directorates move to pave the way for a corruption case against former two-time Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. State party secretary M.V.Govindan on Tuesday said the party will defend Vijayan legally and politically. The EDs latest action threatens to cast a shadow over the partys extended state committee meeting being held at Kozhikode over three days starting on Saturday to discuss organisational shortcomings and corrective measures. The ED has submitted a report to the Director General of Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, seeking action under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The report contains details of the evidence allegedly unearthed during the agencys investigation into the monthly payment case. The ED has also sought action against his son-in-law, P.A.Mohammed Riyas, a party MLA, and his wife, Veena T. The EDs move could have wider implications for the case. Registration of an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act would enable the agency to proceed with further action in the monthly payment case. The ED has alleged that Exalogic Solutions received Rs 2.78 crore from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) without providing any services in return. The agency has taken the view that the transaction falls within the ambit of money laundering. The immediate question is how the state government will respond to the EDs recommendation. The police will have to take a position on the demand to register an FIR, potentially putting the government in a politically sensitive situation. State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the State Police Chief would submit his views to the Home Secretary, following which the matter would come before him and be discussed with the Chief Minister before a decision is taken. The development has already triggered a political attack from Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N.K. Premachandran. He said the EDs move was based on clear evidence and that what had emerged so far was only the tip of the iceberg. This is a new experience in left-wing politics. The CPI(M) must take a stand on the issue and make its position clear. What has emerged against a senior leader is a serious corruption allegation, Premachandran said. He alleged that all of Vijayans arguments had collapsed and Vijayan was not responding to the allegations raised by the ED. The CPI(M) cannot escape responsibility. More cases will emerge, Premachandran said. For the CPI(M), the timing is particularly uncomfortable, with the extended state committee meeting examining the reasons for the partys electoral setback and discussing measures for course correction. The ED action against its top leader is now set to add a major political dimension to those deliberations.
CPI(M) Keralam State committee unanimously passes report on steps to strengthen party: Govindan
He says extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode from September 13, 2026 will discuss both the central committees review of the election results and the State committees report with a view to preparing a practical action plan for course correction
CPI(M) Takes Unusual Steps to Prevent Leaks Ahead of Key Meeting
CPI(M) requests leaders to share call details to prevent leaks before a critical meeting in Kozhikode, raising concerns among members. CPI(M) Takes Unusual Steps to Prevent Leaks Ahead of Key Meeting
CPI-M gets wary of leaks ahead of Kerala unit's crucial Kozhikode meet
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 8 (IANS) The CPI-M, increasingly wary of confidential discussions finding their way outside the party, appears to have taken an unusual step to plug information leaks ahead of its crucial three-day extended Kerala state Committee meeting beginning in Kozhikode on Saturday. According to party sources, members of the Thiruvananthapuram district leadership have been asked to sign consent forms authorising the disclosure of their telephone call details to the party, in what is understood to be an effort to identify the source of any leakage of confidential discussions. The move, if confirmed, would mark an extraordinary extension of the party's traditional emphasis on secrecy surrounding its internal deliberations. The forms were reportedly circulated among district secretariat members recently. The format is understood to contain an authorisation by the individual to the telephone service provider to furnish call details. The leadership has also warned that strict action would follow if confidential party discussions were leaked. The reported move comes at a particularly sensitive time for the CPI-M. The party had gone into the 2026 Assembly election expecting Pinarayi Vijayan to secure a historic third consecutive term, but suffered a severe electoral setback instead. The defeat has since triggered considerable restlessness within the organisation, with questions being raised over the party's political strategy, organisational functioning, and leadership. The extended state committee meeting in Kozhikode, spread over three days from Saturday, assumes significance against this backdrop. With a large section of the party leadership expected to participate, the discussions are likely to include a detailed assessment of the electoral defeat. Leaks from party meetings have become a growing concern with the proliferation of mobile phones and other electronic devices. Meetings that were once conducted with considerable secrecy have increasingly become vulnerable to information being transmitted outside almost instantly. The CPI-M itself has, in the past, used technological evidence, including phone records, while acting against leaders and workers for alleged violations of party discipline. The latest reported move suggests that technology may now be turning inward, as the party seeks to guard the confidentiality of its own deliberations. However, the move has reportedly caused unease among a section of leaders, who feel that seeking such consent amounts to an extraordinary measure. They are understood to be considering bringing the issue to the attention of senior state and central leaders.
Head of Zamorin's family of Kozhikode passes away
Mr. Raja was a resident of Chinthavalappu in Kozhikode City. He took charge as the head of the family in June 2025 after the demise of K.C. Ramachandran Raja, a management expert, whose tenure at the helm spanned only a couple of months.
Kozhikode MP writes to parliamentary panel on bifurcation of Palakkad division
Detachment of the Mangaluru area from the Palakkad division and its merger with the Hubballi division will lead to shifting of key interchange boundaries, stripping Palakkad of its most critical operational assets, says Raghavan
MYL Kozhikode district conference from September 9 to 11
Anchored by the central slogan Youths Correction in Times of Injustice, the three-day event, Insaaf Bagh, will feature leadership camps, delegate sessions, panel interactions, and cultural presentations.
MYL Kozhikode district conference from September 9 to 11
Anchored by the central slogan Youths Correction in Times of Injustice, the three-day event, Insaaf Bagh, will feature leadership camps, delegate sessions, panel interactions, and cultural presentations.
Medical college students in Kozhikode seek better hostel facilities
Students stage token protest on the campus, demanding that steps be taken to open the new hostel buildings whose construction has already been completed
Medical college students in Kozhikode seek better hostel facilities
Students stage token protest on the campus, demanding that steps be taken to open the new hostel buildings whose construction has already been completed
Main agenda of meeting is to discuss the debacle of LDF and CPI(M) in Assembly elections and devise ways to rejuvenate cadre
Who is Athira Suresh, the NIT Calicut grad who left ExxonMobil for the Indian Army?
Lieutenant Athira Suresh from Kozhikode, Kerala, was commissioned into the Indian Army on September 5, 2026, after leaving her job as a Project Controls Engineer at ExxonMobil. A Civil Engineering graduate from NIT Calicut, she joins a family with three generations of military service. She trained at OTA Gaya's SSC Technical (Women) course, part of a passing-out parade that commissioned 595 new officers across two academies that day.
Unsafe driving practices raise concerns on newly widened NH 66 in Kozhikode
Abrupt lane changing, indiscriminate overtaking and illegal parking pose a threat to road users. Enforcement agencies plan intensified checks using interceptor vehicles fitted with radar cameras.
School games in Kozhikode from October 25
Minister for General Education N. Samsudheen, who opened the organising committee of the event on Sunday, said that it was being held in the district after a gap of 15 years
Kozhikode Corporation recalls medicines nearing expiry after councillors raise concerns
Medicines have already been taken back from five health centres and will be replaced. The recall process is expected to be completed by September 7.
IIM-K Director Debashis Chatterjee says the enthusiasm and inquisitiveness shown by the Cabinet, along with its ability to connect ideas with policy and performance, made the engagement particularly meaningful
Reimagining Keralam workshop at IIM-Kozhikode concludes
The gathering brought forth ideas for new initiatives in economic growth, fiscal stability, health and well-being, climate resilience, entrepreneurship, skill development, higher education, and Keralams global standing, all the while upholding the States human-centric development model
Cristiano Ronaldo's Sister Elma Aveiro Visits Keralam, Inaugurates Jewellery
Elma Aveiro received a warm welcome from the people of Kozhikode during her visit to the showroom
Keralam CM, Cabinet to skip press interaction at IIM Kozhikode citing tight schedule, security
Kerala Council of Ministers start leadership retreat at IIM Kozhikode
The News Mill
Health Minister to inaugurate new SFHS facility in Kozhikode on September 5
The new building will be opened on the Government Medical College campus in Kozhikode.
Health Minister to inaugurate new SFHS facility in Kozhikode on September 5
The new building will be opened on the Government Medical College campus in Kozhikode.
Bihar native arrested for 50-crore school project fraud in Keralam
According to police officials, the accused targeted a Kozhikode businessman and his associate by promising to secure the fund to set up educational institutions in various parts of Keralam
Needle found in infant's body, medical negligence alleged
Parents of a one-year-old girl have alleged medical negligence after a needle was found lodged near her ribs, suspected to have been left during treatment at Kottayam Medical College Hospital in June 2025. The needle was surgically removed in July 2026 at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, prompting the family to file a complaint and seek action from the State Health Minister. Hospital authorities have initiated an inquiry into the matter.
Ministers Begin 2-Day Strategic Leadership Retreat at IIM Kozhikode
The programme, titled 'Reimagining Keralam', brings together the state's political leadership, IIM Kozhikode faculty and international experts to discuss issues that will shape the state's future
KGPA seeks comprehensive review of Western Ghats ESA proposal
Kerala Grama Panchayat Association calls for field-level verification of the proposed boundaries in Kozhikode district. It urges the government to address local concerns before finalising the notification.
ED conducts searches across multiple districts in Keralam in two separate drug cases
Searches conducted at four locations linked to the accused in the suspected hybrid ganja case; houses of four accused in Kozhikode also searched; searches relate to the seizure of nearly 17 kg of suspected hybrid ganja in Ernakulam in June and 949.26 grams of suspected MDMA at Calicut airport in October last year
New building for School of Family Health Studies under KUHS to be opened in Kozhikode on September 5
The new facility is located on the campus of the Government Medical College, Kozhikode. It aims to promote the health of society by ensuring the health and well-being of families.
New building for School of Family Health Studies under KUHS to be opened in Kozhikode on September 5
The new facility is located on the campus of the Government Medical College, Kozhikode. It aims to promote the health of society by ensuring the health and well-being of families.
IIM Kozhikode Senior Advisor Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) Recruitment 2026 for 1 post of Senior Advisor (Development). Candidates Can Apply Online. The online application opens on 01-09-2026, and closes on 30-09-2026. The candidate shall apply online through IIM Kozhikode official website.
Kerala Plans Port City Development, Light Metro And New Airport Link For Kozhikode
Civil Police Officer in Kozhikode suspended for 'misusing official position during spa visit
Inquiry reportedly finds that accused availed of spa services without payment. He is also alleged to have asked for money, saying that it was to be handed over to a superior officer for permitting uninterrupted operations of spa
Former Kozhikode DCC president M. Veerankutty no more
He was also the first chairperson of the Kerala State Minorities Commission
Elderly businessman burnt to death as car catches fire following crash in Kozhikode
According to police sources, the car lost control while descending a steep slope and hit a structure near a roadside transformer before crashing into a wall; the vehicle caught fire soon after
Mappilapattu composer Kozhikode Aboobacker passes away
He worked along with the legendary composer of melodies in Malayalam cinema, M.S. Baburaj, and had accompanied K.J. Yesudas when he first performed in Kozhikode
State Teachers Awards, Srestha Vidyalaya Puraskaram announced in Keralam
Awards will be given away at Kozhikode on September 5
Kozhikode Aboobacker, composer and noted Mappilapattu veteran, passes away
Composer of over 3,000 songs, Aboobacker was widely admired across South India for his prolific contributions to Mappilapattu, a traditional Muslim folk song style native to Malabar region of Keralam
Kozhikode Mayor assures steps to prevent diversion of Central Market funds
The Corporation plans to convene a meeting next week to discuss the issue. The Mayor says steps are being taken to expedite the project and ensure that the funds are not lost.
Parent objects to daughter receiving prize from Sriram Venkitaraman at Kozhikode event
The incident occurred at a private swimming pool complex in Cherootty Nagar afternoon after a triathlon a multi-sport race combining swimming, running and cycling
Protests after Gaur kills Kerala man, kin dies of heart attack
A man was killed by a gaur in Kozhikode, Kerala, followed by the death of his relative from a heart attack. Villagers are refusing to cremate the bodies until the government assures action against wild gaurs, demanding compensation and elimination of the animals from residential areas.
Four held over attack on police officer inKeralams Kozhikode
The attack reportedly took place during police inspection at Mananchira Square
Woman passenger held with suspected ganja in Keralams Kozhikode
Police suspect woman procured stock from Andhra Pradesh
A joint inspection conducted recently by the Food Safety department and the Kozhikode Corporations Health wing found several lapses in the way food was stored and served at stalls at the Beach Food Street
Three students drown in Keralams Kozhikode
Police transfers over clash at mosque in Keralams Kozhikode draw criticism
Five officers, including Chombala Station House Officer P.P. Shameel, were transferred after allegations surfaced over their alleged lapses in handling the situation
IIM Kozhikode Executive Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode has released the Recruitment 2026 notification for 3 Executive (C.A.R.E) posts. The online application process will be conducted up to 16 September 2026. Eligible candidates can apply through the official website.
Drug pusher posing as Sub Inspector arrested in Keralams Kozhikode
The accused, identified as Rojith, was found in possession of an air pistol, handcuffs, a fake police identity card, and a photograph of himself dressed in a police uniform. posed as a Sub-Inspector attached to the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force
Kochi Corporation commissions digital streetlight survey to plug asset register gaps
The agency, which manages streetlights for the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Corporations, is expected to launch the survey by the first week of September after consultations with the KSEB
KEAM 2026: MBBS candidates asked to report at Kozhikode medical college
KEAM 2026: MBBS candidates asked to report at Kozhikode medical college
Onam Festival Fever Grips Kerala
From Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi, Kozhikode, and Thrissur, the excitement was palpable, especially during the traditional Uthrada Pachil rush on the eve of Thiru Onam, which keeps vegetable, grocery, and flower markets bustling
In a Facebook post, former Nilambur MLA criticises the Congress leadership in Kozhikode district without naming anyone
Week-long Onam celebrations begin in Kozhikode
A dance performance by Lakshmi Gopalaswamy and a comedy show by Hareesh Kanaran and Nirmal Palazhi will be staged on August 25
More free parking spots identified to ease Onam rush in Kozhikode city
Police have identified 25 locations offering free parking for over 2,495 cars and deployed special squads to remove illegally parked vehicles. The measures are expected to ease pressure on the citys roads during the festival season
