Kannur/Hyderabad, Apr 7: The final day of campaigning for the April 9 Kerala Assembly elections witnessed a sharp escalation in tensions between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, as both leaders engaged in a bitter war of words.
The political confrontation unfolded both on the ground and online, with the two leaders exchanging pointed remarks and detailed letters via social media. The row intensified after Vijayan strongly reacted to Reddy’s earlier comments, using Malayalam expressions interpreted as nearly derogatory, signalling his displeasure.
Reddy, who was campaigning for the UDF in Kollam district, responded swiftly, drawing a comparison between Vijayan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While he said he would accept personal criticism from the veteran leader as a “blessing,” he firmly objected to remarks that he claimed insulted the people of Kerala.
The controversy traces back to April 1, when Reddy used a popular dialogue from Mohanlal’s film “Narasimham” “Nee po mone Vijaya” during a campaign rally, adapting it to target the Kerala Chief Minister and suggesting that his political relevance had diminished.
Reacting earlier in the day, Vijayan stressed that individuals holding constitutional positions must maintain dignity and questioned Reddy’s conduct. He later reiterated on social media that while political disagreements are natural, personal insults are unacceptable and undermine democratic discourse.
In a detailed letter, Vijayan defended Kerala’s governance record, highlighting achievements in social development, startup growth, and ease of doing business. He also pointed to consistent publication of progress reports over the past decade as proof of transparency and accountability.
Rejecting allegations of stagnation, Vijayan said Kerala’s performance in indices like the NITI Aayog SDG rankings reflects sustained progress. He further accused previous central governments of delaying key infrastructure projects such as Kochi Metro and Vizhinjam Port.
The Kerala Chief Minister also alleged bias by the BJP-led Union government and asserted that his administration has actively opposed policies it considers anti-federal through legal and political means.
Meanwhile, Reddy, in his response, questioned the relevance of the data cited by Vijayan, calling it outdated. He also raised concerns over unresolved controversies, including the gold smuggling case and missing temple gold, seeking accountability from the state government.
As campaigning came to a close, the verbal duel underscored the high political stakes and charged atmosphere surrounding the Kerala Assembly elections.