Satheesan Presses LDF Over FIR Delay, Seeks Probe Into Ayyappa Meet Spending

The opposition leader used a Kozhikode campaign stop to link demands for accountability to his coalition’s economic pitch.

Overview

At Kozhikode, V. D. Satheesan questioned why a sexual-assault complaint given to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 24 led to an FIR only on December 8 and sought an explanation from the Home Minister–Chief Minister.
He called the case handling deeply shameful, warned against double standards in offences against women, and commended the survivor for speaking out.
Alleging irregularities at the state-backed Global Ayyappa Meet, he cited claimed payments in the names of non-attendees and a bhajan troupe that did not perform, and catering billed for 4,000 despite about 600 present, and demanded a detailed probe.
He paired the attacks with policy pledges, saying a UDF government would boost Kerala’s economy by streamlining tax administration, plugging leakage, and directing funds to the poor.
He also accused the CPI(M) and the Chief Minister of pursuing majority communalism as the UDF’s Puthuyuga Yathra drew supporters in Kozhikode despite a trade union strike.