Thiruvananthapuram: A surprise visit by former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran to the official residence of Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday has triggered political speculation, with the purpose of the meeting remaining unclear.
Surendran, one of the tallest CPI(M) leaders in the state capital city, who arrived riding a scooter accompanied by another person, told waiting reporters that he had come to meet the minister with a recommendation on behalf of his companion.
However, he did not disclose the nature of the recommendation.
The absence of any official clarification has fuelled discussion in political circles, particularly in the backdrop of developments in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged Sabarimala gold scam.
The timing of the meeting has attracted attention as the SIT is understood to be in the final stages of submitting its chargesheet in the cases registered in connection with the alleged scam. Surendran had served as Devaswom Minister during the period covered by one of the two cases under investigation.
While there is no suggestion that Wednesday’s meeting was connected to the investigation, the unexpected visit to the Home Minister’s official residence has inevitably raised political eyebrows.
Surendran was until recently the MLA representing Kazhakootam but lost the constituency in the April Assembly election to BJP leader V. Muraleedharan.
The visit also drew attention for an unrelated reason.
After the meeting, Surendran was seen riding away on his scooter without wearing a helmet.
The visuals have prompted questions over whether the apparent violation of traffic rules would attract action under the Motor Vehicles Act, including through Kerala’s AI-enabled traffic camera enforcement system.
The episode has also revived a wider debate over the uniform enforcement of traffic laws and whether the law would be applied in the same manner as it is to ordinary citizens if a violation had indeed occurred.
With no official explanation forthcoming from either the Home Minister’s office or Surendran, the meeting has become the subject of intense political discussion, even as speculation continues over the circumstances that led to the unexpected interaction.
(IANS)
