On the last day of the campaigning for the Kerala Assembly elections, the state’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, shared a sharp war of words with Telangana CM Anumula Revanth Reddy. The controversy began after Reddy challenged Vijayan to an open debate in Thiruvananthapuram amid ongoing discussions on governance models and development initiatives.
In his remarks, Reddy used the Malayalam phrase “Nee Po Mone Vijaya,” targeting the veteran leader—comments that political observers noted were likely crafted by local Congress leaders, given Reddy’s unfamiliarity with the language.
Responding during a ‘Meet the Press’ event at the Kannur Press Club on Tuesday, Vijayan questioned whether a person holding the constitutional office of Chief Minister should resort to such language, and warned that a detailed response would follow since he was currently occupied with the final phase of campaigning.
In a pointed retort, Vijayan used the phrase “Dash Mone Revanthe,” urging Reddy to reflect on whether he had upheld the decorum expected from a Chief Minister.
The exchange has sparked widespread reactions, with critics terming the public spat as unbecoming of democratic leadership, even as it triggered heated debates on social media.
Before returning to his constituency for the final leg of campaigning, Vijayan indicated that he would address the issue more comprehensively at a later stage. He also used the media interaction to speak on key issues, including rehabilitation efforts in Wayanad and recent fund-related controversies, which are expected to remain central to the state’s political discourse.
Turning his focus to the opposition, Vijayan launched a strong attack on the Indian National Congress, accusing it of maintaining a long-standing pattern of tacit understandings with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He asserted that the Left would never resort to communal politics for electoral gains.
He further alleged that a significant portion of the BJP’s top leadership comprises former Congress members and claimed that relatives of several Congress leaders have joined the BJP. Citing historical instances, Vijayan referred to electoral contests where, he alleged, covert arrangements between the Congress and right-wing forces influenced outcomes.
Pointing to more recent elections, he claimed that unusual voting patterns indicated possible vote transfers between parties. He cited the 2016 Nemom victory of O. Rajagopal as an example, alleging that Congress votes had declined sharply in that constituency. He also questioned the circumstances surrounding BJP leader Suresh Gopi’s victory in Thrissur, asking the Congress to explain what he described as a significant drop in its expected vote share.
Vijayan alleged that such political arrangements were weakening the Congress from within and warned that the party risked further erosion due to what he termed “continuous political transactions.”
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