A dispute over relief funds collected for a housing project for landslide-hit Wayanad residents has become a major political talking point in Kerala, with crucial assembly elections just three days away.
The Congress went on the defensive as the CPI (M) sought details of the funds collected by the party and its utilization. In response, KPCC president Sunny Joseph presented a hastily prepared statement on fundraising that left many questions unanswered and appeared to have only compounded the party’s woes. Social networks are full of criticism and satire regarding the management of funds.
The problem started with an innocuous request from Raju. P. Nair, the Congress spokesperson, during a debate on a TV channel, sought details of the funds collected by the CPI (M) for the Wayanad victims. The CPI (M), which released the fund-raising details within 30 minutes, hit back at the Congress.
M. Swaraj, a member of the CPI (M) state secretariat, launched a furious counter-attack by asking the Congress to present to the public the funds it had mobilized for relief work. He held two back-to-back press conferences, prompting the KPCC president to present the numbers – allegedly scribbled on a sheet of paper – at the next press conference.
The Congress chief’s statement that the party has spent funds for land purchase, related activities and preparation of fund mobilization application and will have to find new resources to build the promised houses has added more ammunition to the ruling front.
Describing the development as “the biggest loot of a political party under the guise of a rehabilitation mission,” Mr. Swaraj said the Congress has always sought to cash in on disasters. “This is not the first time that the Congress has looted the money it allegedly raised to support the victims of natural calamities. It has exhausted the funds that were collected from the general public to support the flood-affected people in Kerala. Back then, the party had promised to build 1,000 houses for the affected people. The party has not built a single house. Unlike the alleged Wayanad fund scam, this case was not heavily funded by the floods.
Mr. Swaraj said the KPCC president was forced to come out with the Wayanad funds statement after mounting public pressure. He added that while the party may have raised a significant amount for relief work, it was unlikely to be Rs. 6 million announced and demanded that the Congress disclose how much it had raised independently, apart from contributions from its service organizations and the Youth Congress
At the same time, Mr. Nair came to the defense of the Congress, saying that the CPI(M) had resorted to diversionary tactics and leveled baseless allegations against the Congress on the issue of funds, though the party had come up with a convincing statement about the money collected so far and its utilization.
“The CPI (M) is vainly trying to raise false allegations to downplay the public enthusiasm generated by the five promises and five guarantees by the UDF,” Mr Nair defended.
“CPI (M) is required to explain its collection and use of funds. The party is spreading falsehood and organized cover-up of fund collection anomalies by spreading misleading statements about funds raised by the Congress. CPI (M)’s statement about funds is tainted with ambiguity. It also lacks transparency and honesty which raised seven questions on Mr. Na.M (CPI),” he added. Wayanad Rehabilitation and Fund Mobilization in Social Media Post.
The CPI (M) was quick to include the Wayanad fund issue in its door-to-door campaign and corner meetings while highlighting what it called the development initiatives of the LDF government.
Published – 05 Apr 2026 21:38 IST
