New Delhi: Several opposition leaders have condemned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the residence of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday (May 27), calling it the latest in the Union government’s “misuse of central agencies” and a result of the “reckless” allegations made by the Congress.The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday (May 27) conducted searches at 10 premises of the former Kerala chief minister, including his residence in Kerala. Along with Vijayan’s house, the ED also searched the house of former Kerala public works and tourism minister Mohammed Riyaz in Kozhikode.The raids are related to an ongoing case wherein the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) had filed a chargesheet against T. Veena, the daughter of the ex-CM. The latest raids are being conducted less than a month after Vijayan quit his office as the chief minister after the United Democratic Front (UDF) defeated the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Kerala assembly elections.CPI(M) protest met with police actionScores of leaders and workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) took to the streets across the country today as the probe agency searched the Politbureau member’s residence. Meanwhile, in Delhi, a scuffle had broken out as CPI(M) leaders and workers also alleged that they met with police action. Several leaders including M.A. Baby, Brinda Karat, Mariam Dhawale and others were detained.Several CPI(M) leaders were detained from the protest against the ED raids, in Delhi. Photo: X/@cpimspeakIn a post on X, the CPI(M) stated, “The Delhi police brutally repressed a protest by #CPIM leaders and workers against the ED raids at the residence of Polit Bureau member and former Kerala Chief Minister @pinarayivijayan. The police detained General Secretary @MABABYCPIM, Polit Bureau members Mariam Dhawale and @VijooKrishnan, party leader Brinda Karat, and other leaders and workers. Down with the barbarity of the Delhi police!”The Delhi police brutally repressed a protest by #CPIM leaders and workers against the ED raids at the residence of Polit Bureau member and former Kerala Chief Minister @pinarayivijayanThe police detained General Secretary @MABABYCPIM, Polit Bureau members Mariam Dhawale and… pic.twitter.com/Q2MLt4Vbge— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) May 27, 2026A CPI(M) leader being dragged by Delhi Police at the protest site in Delhi. Photo: X/@cpimspeakResult of ‘reckless allegations’ by CongressDravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M.K. Stalin strongly condemned the ED’s raids, stressing that the development raises “serious concerns” regarding the “growing pattern of central agencies being weaponised” against the opposition.Meanwhile, he added that it also exposes “the hollowness of the reckless allegations made by some Congress leaders” who had questioned why Vijayan had not yet been targeted by the BJP.Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has faced similar raids in the past along with his party members, too said, “The ED raid against former Kerala CM @pinarayivijayan is yet another blatant misuse of central agencies by the BJP to target regional opposition parties and undermine democracy.”He also alleged that there was a tie between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. “ED’s immediate raid after Congress started complaining about ‘inaction’, raises questions on the BJP-Congress relationship,” he claimed.Kerala home minister and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the state government had “no information” about the raids and that the ED did not seek the state’s support in it.‘Modi government victimising opposition leaders’Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the raids were the Modi government’s move to “eliminate regional parties” and induct corrupt opposition leaders into their fold.“The ED raid at the residence of Kerala’s former Chief Minister Shri @pinarayivijayan ji is motivated by political malice and revenge. The BJP government misuses investigative agencies to serve its political interests and to eliminate regional parties. Let the Modi government tell us: In the past 12 years, after various investigative agencies have filed fabricated fake cases against leaders of opposition parties, conducted raids, and summoned them for questioning, how many opposition leaders have been inducted into the BJP, awarded certificates of honesty, and rewarded with high positions?” he asked, adding, “They are openly making those accused of corruption—who take notes in videos—into Chief Ministers. Remember, in the end, truth and justice will prevail,” he added.CPI(M) leader M.B. Rajesh said, “The BJP-led government at the Centre is targeting the Left, and the CPI(M) in particular, in Kerala. That is why a series of raids is being conducted targeting Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan. This is nothing but a political vendetta. This move is similar to the one they executed in Delhi, targeting AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. We all know that the ED has no credibility at all; its conviction rate is less than 1%.”“The ED has been used by the Narendra Modi government to target and victimise opposition leaders and non-BJP party leaders. This is precisely what is happening in Kerala…This has happened in Delhi, and now it is happening here,” he added.‘Not weakened’Earlier in the day, Vijayan had asserted that the party would not be weakened by such moves. “Do not indulge in wishful thinking that CPI(M) can be weakened through such actions,” he had said speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.VIDEO | Kerala: “Do not indulge in wishful thinking that CPI(M) can be weakened through such actions,” says former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the ED raid.The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches at the residence of former Kerala chief… pic.twitter.com/lR143dr2UI— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 27, 2026The BJP-led Union government has been using central agencies against opposition leaders since it came to power, he claimed, adding that the action against him was also part of that strategy.He also said that the search may provide “mental satisfaction” to leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader had repeatedly questioned why his residence had not been searched and why he had not been arrested.