CPI(M) criticises Satheesan for his remarks on Adani-MSC share transfer

Kochi, Jul 8 (PTI) Senior CPI(M) leader P Rajeev on Wednesday slammed Chief Minister V D Satheesan over his remarks regarding the share transfer between Adani and shipping company MSC and the portfolios held by Pinarayi Vijayan in the previous LDF government. Rajeev contended that Satheesan's remarks earlier in the day during a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram did not conform to the office he holds, and he should have made statements after verifying the facts. The CM, during the press conference, claimed that discussions between Adani Ports and MSC had been going on for about a year and alleged that the previous Left government was aware of them. He also said that a report published by the CPI(M) mouthpiece on June 5, 2026, had stated that MSC was coming to Vizhinjam, while the current managing director assumed charge only on June 11 after the UDF government took office. Satheesan also hit out at opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan over his alleged remarks that the CM taking charge of various departments could lead to corruption. "How can he make such statements? Do we take charge of departments for corruption? He had charge of 29 departments when he was CM. Such statements from the opposition leader do not conform to the position he holds," Satheesan said. "Why did he keep charge of the IT Department? For whom? Whom was he trying to protect by doing that? Did he do that to gain some undue favours? I can say more on this, but I am stopping myself here," he said. Referring to the CM's remarks, Rajeev said that it was Satheesan's statements which did not conform to the office he holds. "He is responding like an opposition leader and not the CM. He should verify the facts before making statements," the CPI(M) leader told reporters in Kochi. Rajeev contended that news about MSC coming to Vizhinjam was published in several newspapers much before it was published in the CPI(M) mouthpiece on June 5, 2026. He claimed that by making remarks against a newspaper, the CM was creating a "smokescreen" to "escape" from answering how the Adani group could enter into an agreement with MSC to sell 49 per cent of its shares in the concessionaire operating the Vizhinjam seaport without seeking prior permission of the government. On the portfolios issue, Rajeev said that the IT portfolio was held by V S Achuthanandan when he was CM from 2006-2011 and therefore, there was nothing special or wrong about it. He further said that the CPI(M) had only expressed the view that it was dangerous to hold the three key portfolios of Law, Finance and Public Administration by the CM alone as it would lead to loss of the "cross checking or balancing mechanism". PTI HMP ADB