When reporters tried to show away a gathering between the CPI(M) and the Bharatiya Janata Occasion in Thiruvananthapuram in 2017, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at them, telling them to “get out” (kadak pratu).
At the moment, Vijayan was solely a 12 months into his first time period. Though his offensive statements drew condemnation from political and media circles, the Marxist veteran stood his floor. “It’s best to solely go to locations you are invited to and do not rush in uninvited,” he stated. His inside circle and social media “warriors” justified his feedback by saying he had carried out nothing incorrect in entrance of “uninvited media friends.”
The deadline has been shortened to March 2026, and Mr. Vijayan will goal to win a 3rd consecutive time period by spearheading the incumbent CPI(M)-led LDF bloc forward of the April 9 meeting polls.
Within the countdown to the Kerala elections, the two-term CM, who lasted 80 years, has given at the very least 20 interviews up to now three days, together with with TV channels, newspapers, YouTubers, podcasters and others, particularly these thought of to be critics of the Left. In a free-spirited interview, he calmly answered robust and sharp questions with humor and sharp rhetoric.
Alluding to the cost {that a} cult of persona has been constructed round Mr. Vijayan, the Manorama Information Channel interviewer requested, “You belong to a political custom the place the celebration is taken into account supreme over the private chief. Are you able to all the time stay submissive to the celebration?” To this, the CM responded, “Nobody is above the celebration. I and others have all the time remained subservient to celebration norms (Vidyan). Nonetheless, underneath particular circumstances contemplating the political scenario within the state, some tolerance is given to people.” The interviewer pressed, “Was there a time when the celebration corrected Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan? We do not find out about that.” The CM laughed and stated, “There is no such thing as a want for you or anybody else to know whether or not or after I was corrected by the celebration. That may be a dialogue inside the celebration and is confidential.”
The interview covers all kinds of points together with numerous scandals and controversies such because the Sabarimala temple gold theft case and the entry of ladies into Sabarimala. “The believers are on LDF’s facet. They don’t seem to be fooled by false propaganda from some political circles,” Mr. Vijayan stated concerning the affect of the Sabarimala riots on LDF’s election prospects.
To a different query on why the federal government modified course not too long ago on the problem of ladies’s entry into the Sabarimala temple, he stated, “I’ve not modified my stand. It’s the celebration’s stand that there must be intensive session earlier than relating the customs and customs of the individuals. We can not take a unilateral stand.”
Requested whether or not there was a “tacit understanding” between the LDP authorities and the Bharatiya Janata Occasion-led Middle, Mr. Vijayan stated, “If there was such an understanding, why did the Middle not assist the state in 2018 (Kerala floods)?…Did the Middle assist the state throughout the Wayanad landslide (2024)?” When approached by an interviewer, he went after the opposition Congress-led UDF and stated, “UDF is afraid of going in opposition to the BJP. They’ve the identical ideology at some ranges. We (LDF) are completely different.” On Rahul Gandhi’s claims about an “unholy alliance” between the CPI(M) and the BJP, he retorted, “Rahul Gandhi’s Congress is the B-team of the BJP.”
An interviewer from Asianet Information Channel requested why he thought the Liberal Democratic Occasion could be voted again into energy regardless of its defeat within the latest native authorities elections. To this, the CM dominated out the anti-incumbency argument and stated, “These two elections (native authorities and meeting polls) are two completely different ball video games. What’s a greater different than LDF in meeting elections?”
These interviews are being seen in political circles as a part of the CPI(M) camp’s efforts to revamp the picture of Mr. Vijayan, often known as an skilled and difficult politician, to challenge him as a “candid, approachable and clear” strongman on the eve of polling.
He not too long ago got here underneath fireplace for his interview with Malayalam celebrity Mohanlal, which the opposition termed as a “PR stunt”. Placing that apart, Vijayan
“We aren’t doing intensive PR, however we can not ignore the brand new media that’s campaigning in opposition to us,” he stated in an interview. He additionally stated, “Some individuals might have had issues with the nonpolitical interview with Mr. Mohanlal, who’s a revered actor in Kerala.”
In a number of interviews, he reiterated that the LDF won’t ever permit Kerala to change into a “communal state” and can all the time prioritize growth, however he was additionally requested concerning the alleged “Islamophobia” of SNDP chief Veerappalli Natesan, who is alleged to be an LDF supporter. “Have you ever ever criticized Natesan from a communal standpoint?” the interviewer requested him, implying that Vijayan, like Natesan, additionally belongs to the Ezhava neighborhood. “Vellapalli himself has stated that he has by no means made any assertion in opposition to Muslims. His statements had been in opposition to the Muslim League. Criticism of the Muslim League can’t be thought of Islamophobic,” the CM stated.
His interview heated up the election scene. For instance, he closely attacked former CPI(M) chief G. Sudhakaran, who left the celebration to contest the present elections as an impartial with Congress assist. “There is no such thing as a different phrase in my dictionary that refers to his betrayal,” the CM stated in his remarks, sparking a spat.
Throughout the interview, Mr. Vijayan maintained that his agenda was centered on the event of a brand new state of Kerala. He stated that if a “Nava Kerala Nirmanam” (growth of a brand new Kerala) is realized, will probably be his aim for a 3rd time period. In a number of interviews, he asserted that funding alternatives within the state are increasing, including that Kerala is “the one state within the nation that provides a non-communal ambiance for industrial flourishing”.
The hectic nature of his interviews appears to be affecting LDF conferences as effectively. On the LDF election rally in Konni on Tuesday, a leftist activist stood as much as ask Mr. Vijayan a query in the midst of his speech. “I’ve a query,” the activist stated. Within the business, he sarcastically stated, “Please hearken to it at dwelling,” so some imagine that his virulent tongue has not but dulled.
