Kozhikode(Keralam) | CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan on Sunday claimed that the ED has been targeting the Left party and its veteran leader Pinarayi Vijayan for a long time and such moves will be strongly opposed.

Speaking on the sidelines of the party's three-day extended state committee meeting here, Govindan told reporters that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been planning to target Vijayan for some time and the recent developments are an outcome of that.

He was referring to a recent letter sent by the agency to the state police chief seeking registration of an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and her husband P A Mohamed Riyas in connection with the alleged CMRL bribery case.

The CPI(M) state secretary further said that the party and the LDF has no doubts regarding the intentions behind the ED's move as it and other central agencies have been targeting opposition party leaders across the country.

On being asked whether any resolution would be regarding the issue in the meeting, Govindan said the possibility of doing so will be examined.

The extended state committee meeting is being held by the Left party to discuss ways to overcome the setbacks it suffered following its defeat in the assembly election this year.

Earlier this week, Vijayan had accused the ED of targeting him in its money laundering probe into the alleged CMRL bribery case by now levelling corruption allegations against him.

The ED has sent a letter to DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar seeking registration of an FIR against Vijayan, his daughter Veena, son-in-law Riyas and some others in connection with the alleged CMRL bribery case, based on "evidence" gathered during its probe and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED has alleged that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of "IT consultancy services".

The federal agency had searched premises linked to Veena, who was living with Vijayan at a rented accommodation in Thiruvananthapuram, in June and subsequently questioned her.