Mon Aug 18 08:20:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in Kerala is facing a political storm after a leaked letter allegedly detailing financial links between top party leaders/their relatives and a UK-based businessperson surfaced. While CPI(M) leaders are tight-lipped about the letter’s authenticity, they accuse the Congress and BJP of using the controversy to smear the party ahead of upcoming local and state elections. The opposition is accused of employing similar tactics used in previous elections, focusing on defamation rather than substantive policy debates.
**News Article:**

**Kerala CPI(M) Embroiled in Controversy Over Leaked Letter Alleging Financial Misconduct**

**Thiruvananthapuram – August 18, 2025** – The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in Kerala is battling a growing political scandal following the leak of a confidential letter reportedly outlining financial ties between senior party figures and a UK-based businessperson. The letter, purportedly addressed to the CPI(M)’s Polit Bureau, has ignited a firestorm of accusations, with opposition parties seizing on the opportunity to attack the ruling party.

CPI(M) Kerala State secretary M.V. Govindan, when questioned in New Delhi, refused to confirm or deny the letter’s existence, dismissing inquiries as “absurd.” He also declined to comment on suggestions that the leak indicated internal divisions within the party.

The controversy originated when a former business partner of the UK-based individual claimed to have sent the letter, alleging it implicated relatives of a prominent CPI(M) leader. This claim was made in connection with a defamation suit filed by the businessperson in a Delhi court.

Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty, a CPI(M) State Committee member, accused the Congress and BJP of exploiting the situation to tarnish the CPI(M)’s image and undermine the state government. He asserted that the opposition was recycling strategies used in past elections, prioritizing “lies and ludicrous conspiracy theories” over substantive policy debates related to social welfare, employment, and development. He stated such slanderous campaigns against CPI(M) leaders would intensify, given the “inevitability of a third Pinarayi Vijayan government.”

“The CPI(M) leadership will weigh the matter and provide the public clarity,” Mr. Sivankutty added.

The controversy comes ahead of crucial local body elections later this year and the Assembly elections in 2026, raising concerns about the potential impact on the CPI(M)’s electoral prospects. The party is expected to address the allegations and provide a more detailed response in the coming days.

Read More