Pinarayi Vijayan in Serious Trouble as NIA tightens screws

Pinarayi Vijayan is headed towards serious trouble as the Kerala Gold smuggling scandal gets messier by the day. The Indian Express has reported that Faisal Fareed, the third accused in the Gold Smuggling Scam has been arrested by the Dubai Police. Key Points about Faisal Fareed

• Faisal is from Kaipamangalam in Thrissur district
• Faisal sent a consignment to UAE consulate Charge d’ Affairs Rashed Khamis Alshemelli in which 30 kgs of gold were found.
• He apparently forged documents including emblem of UAE mission in Thiruvananthapuram to send gold inside baggage
• Faisal is likely to be sent back to India soon

The NIA registered a case claiming the involvement of terrorist elements in the smuggling of the Gold.

Whether this is a terror issue or plain arbitrage in Gold Prices between Dubai and India, time will tell but it is a certain political hot potato for CM Pinarayi Vijayan. As we reported earlier, the main issue is the involvement of the CM’s principal secretary in this issue (he has been fired two weeks ago)

Why Pinarayi Vijayan is in Trouble?

Two other accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair were arrested from Bengaluru. M. Sivasankar, Principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as well as Principal secretary IT, was removed last week for his alleged association with Swapna Suresh. There appears to be evidence that he was in telephonic conversation with her.

The involvement of Principal Secretary’s office does not sound good for the Government. CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that his government will take action against M Sivasankar if found guilty. The NIA with terror link investigation is likely to make life hell for CM Vijayan. This may change the face of the politics in Kerala.

A recent Opinion Poll by Asianet-Cfore confirmed that the Left Front could do the impossible and return to power next year. It was a close shave even in 2006 but this time they look better placed. The seat forecasts in the opinion poll are as follows

• LDF – 80
• UDF-58
• NDA-5

The CFore Opinion Poll shows that a 1.5 to 2% swing to UDF (Congress+) will shift the election in favour of UDF. This scandal will surely hurt Mr Vijayan, it is advantage Congress at the moment.

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PC: newsminute.com