Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Kerala Power Crisis Spurs UDF-CPM Blame Over Cancelled Deal
Kerala is facing a shortage of electricity.
People are reportedly having power cuts for about 30 minutes during busy evening hours.
The UDF government says an earlier LDF government caused part of the problem by cancelling a long-term deal to buy power.
That deal was supposed to provide 465 megawatts for 25 years.
Pinarayi Vijayan says the deal had not received the required approvals and had legal problems.
He says the earlier government used other purchases and power swaps to keep electricity available.
Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph says demand has risen while generation and available purchases have fallen.
The two sides also disagree about whether the current government acted quickly enough.
They are therefore blaming each other while residents face the shortage.
The UDF government blamed the previous LDF administration for cancelling a 25-year agreement to procure 465 MW of power.
Reports cited the agreement’s price as either ₹4.26 or ₹4.29 per unit, with the pact signed during the UDF government in 2015.
Pinarayi Vijayan said the agreement lacked required approvals and contained legal and procedural defects before its rejection in 2023.
Residents are facing 30-minute evening power cuts, while KSEB has warned that restrictions could continue during the month.
The two sides offered competing explanations involving rising demand, reduced supply, power purchases, swaps and alleged administrative failures.
- Who
- Kerala Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph and the UDF government blamed the previous LDF administration; CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan rejected the accusation.
- What
- The government and opposition exchanged blame over an electricity shortage and the cancellation of a 465 MW long-term power purchase agreement.
- When
- The agreement was signed in 2015 and its approval was denied in 2023; the dispute and reported power cuts occurred during the current crisis.
- Where
- Kerala, including Thiruvananthapuram, where Joseph spoke to the media and Vijayan issued a Facebook statement.
- Why
- Joseph cited the loss of contracted power, rising consumption and reduced generation, while Vijayan cited defects in the agreement and alleged current administrative failures.
UDF Government’s Position
LDF Opposition’s Position
Responsibility for the shortage
UDF Government’s Position
Sunny Joseph said the previous LDF government’s cancellation of the 465 MW agreement contributed to the current shortage.
LDF Opposition’s Position
Pinarayi Vijayan said the UDF government was blaming the previous administration for its own alleged administrative incompetence and mismanagement.
Validity of the power agreement
UDF Government’s Position
The UDF government presented the agreement as a lost source of relatively long-term power that could have helped prevent the crisis.
LDF Opposition’s Position
Vijayan said the agreement was entered into without required approvals, had legal shortcomings and was ultimately rejected by the regulatory authorities and appellate process.
Response to the crisis
UDF Government’s Position
Joseph said there is no immediate solution, citing rising summer demand, reduced generation and insufficient availability in day-ahead and real-time markets; he said long-term measures are needed.
LDF Opposition’s Position
Vijayan said the previous government avoided power cuts through higher-priced purchases and power swaps, while the current government failed to act promptly after warning signs emerged.
- Power agreement
- The 25-year agreement covered 465 MW of electricity.
- Reported price
- The articles cite the contract price as ₹4.26 or ₹4.29 per unit.
- Agreement date
- The pact was signed in 2015 during the UDF government led by Oommen Chandy.
- Regulatory decision
- The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission denied approval in 2023, according to Vijayan.
- Current cuts
- Residents are facing reported 30-minute power cuts during peak evening hours.
- Supply pressures
- Joseph cited increased consumption, lower generation, repayment of borrowed power and limited short-term market supply.
- Alternative measures
- Vijayan said the previous government used higher-priced purchases, power swaps and other measures to avoid restrictions.
