G Sudhakaran questions impact of Kerala’s ‘Operation Toofan’ anti-drug drive

CPI(M) leader and former Kerala minister G. Sudhakaran has questioned the effectiveness of the state government’s anti-drug campaign, ‘Operation Toofan’, asking what kind of storm it has created if it has failed to shake the drug mafia.

Speaking in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Sudhakaran took a dig at the much-publicised initiative, questioning whether the operation had made any tangible difference on the ground.

He suggested that a campaign named after a storm should have a decisive impact on drug networks rather than remain largely a publicity exercise.

Sudhakaran has also raised concerns over the police response to alleged links between drug networks and individuals associated with the ruling establishment.

He has questioned reports of party leaders shielding local members implicated in high-profile drug cases, expressing concern over whether such compromises are consistent with communist principles.

Operation Toofan, launched by the Kerala Home Department, aims to curb the growing drug menace through intensified anti-narcotics enforcement.

However, the campaign has faced political criticism and public scrutiny over its effectiveness and controversies surrounding the participation of individuals with criminal backgrounds in anti-drug initiatives.

Sudhakaran’s remarks add to the debate over whether the government’s high-profile campaign is delivering meaningful results in tackling drug trafficking and dismantling the networks operating across the state.

The irony is that former CPI(M) leader G. Sudhakaran won the Ambalappuzha Assembly constituency in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections as a UDF-backed independent candidate.