THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With state assembly election hardly months away, Kerala government is all set to approach the High Court seeking to consider the review petition against the CBI court verdict in the SNC Lavalin case, acquitting CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan.
The crucial move ahead of the election is viewed as an attempt by the Oommen Chandy led UDF government against Pinarayi Vijayan, who was widely portrayed as CPM's chief minister candidate.
The review petition was originally filed by the CBI and Crime Nandakumar against the CBI court verdict which acquitted then CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and others in the SNC Lavalin case. The case pertains to an agreement regarding the repair works of power plants in Kerala, signed by the 1996 LDF government with Canada-based SNC Lavalin company when Pinarayi Vijayan was the power minister.
The government move to reign in Pinarayi Vijayan comes at a time when the CPM is all set to launch its Nava Kerala March led by Pinarayi Vijayan from Kasargod on Friday. The government move has already invited severe criticism from variosu quarters with CPM terming it politically motivated. CPM politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai has already made clear that the case would not be a hindrance for Vijayan to contest in the polls.