K.C. Venugopal alleges Kerala DGP appointment ‘a political compromise’ with Centre

All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) alleged that the appointment of Ravada A. Chandrasekhar as Kerala’s Director General of Police (DGP) was a “political compromise” between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in Kerala and the Central government.

Raising sharp criticism, Mr. Venugopal questioned why officers such as Yogesh Gupta and Nitin Agarwal were overlooked in favour of Mr. Chandrasekhar, suggesting that the move amounted to the CPI(M) “forgetting its own martyrs.”

“There are valid reasons why Nitin Agarwal was not appointed despite being an excellent officer. If required, we will disclose those reasons,” Mr. Venugopal told the media in Kannur.

“This is not the first time the CPI(M) has compromised with the Centre. The appointment is clearly the second such deal,” he said, accusing the party of betraying the memory of those martyred in the Koothuparamba firing. “Those who supported Pinarayi Vijayan will question him tomorrow,” he said.

While clarifying that he had “no personal criticism” of Mr. Chandrasekhar, Mr. Venugopal said the CPI(M) should show the courage to admit that its previous stand against Mr. Chandrasekhar was flawed.