A significant political storm has erupted in Kerala, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition sharply criticizing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The UDF alleges that the Chief Minister engaged in body-shaming, making inappropriate comments about the height of one of their legislators.
In response, Leader of the Opposition, V. D. Satheesan, has formally requested Speaker A. N. Shamseer to expunge the Chief Minister’s ‘offensive remark’ from the official Assembly records.
Satheesan further contended that Chief Minister Vijayan’s alleged remarks not only violated parliamentary decorum but also diminished the dignity and public perception of the legislative assembly, undermining the established rules and procedures governing its conduct.
The contentious comments were made amidst a tumultuous Zero Hour session. The Assembly plunged into disorder when UDF members stormed the well of the House and surrounded the Speaker’s podium. Their protest was fueled by demands for the resignations of Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) P. S. Prasanth, following allegations of ‘official connivance’ in the reported embezzlement of religious artifacts from the revered Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.
During this chaotic scene, the watch and ward personnel formed a protective barrier in front of the Speaker’s dais, as an opposition member reportedly attempted to climb onto the rostrum.
Without explicitly naming anyone, Chief Minister Vijayan reportedly invoked a traditional Malayalam proverb. This adage speaks of individuals who recklessly attempt challenging feats despite lacking the necessary physical attributes for such demanding tasks. He then suggested that the legislator in question, due to their ‘lack of physical stature,’ exploited parliamentary privilege to confront the watch and ward staff, including female officers.