Chief Minister’s Body Shaming Remarks Shameful: Najeeb Kanthapuram MLA
Thiruvananthapuram, October 8, 2025: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sparked widespread outrage following his body-shaming remarks targeting an opposition MLA’s short stature during a heated session in the state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The comments, which came amid a tumultuous debate over the alleged disappearance of gold from the Sabarimala temple’s dwarapalaka idols, have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and ignited a debate about parliamentary decorum.
The incident unfolded during Question Hour when opposition MLAs boycotted proceedings after a scuffle between their members and the Assembly’s watch-and-ward staff. The confrontation stemmed from protests over the Sabarimala gold issue, with opposition benches accusing the ruling party of mismanagement. In response, Chief Minister Vijayan, without naming the MLA, mocked his height, using a colloquial phrase from his village: “like something stacked up to eight and three-quarters ‘atti’.” He further implied that the MLA’s alleged aggressive behaviour towards watch-and-ward staff, including women, stemmed from the protection afforded by his position rather than personal physical strength.
The remarks prompted an immediate backlash. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan condemned the statement as “body shaming” and “politically incorrect,” accusing Vijayan of tarnishing the dignity of the Assembly. In a letter to Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer, Satheesan demanded that the comments be expunged from official records, arguing they violated parliamentary propriety. “Calling them progressives is meaningless. They ought to be living in 19th-century Spain,” Satheesan told reporters outside the Assembly, highlighting the insensitivity of the remarks.
MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram echoed Satheesan’s sentiments, expressing shock at the Chief Minister’s words and the ruling party’s apparent endorsement, as ministers and MLAs thumped desks in support. “In which century is our Chief Minister living?” Kanthapuram asked, questioning Vijayan’s commitment to progressive values. He pointed to a pattern of derogatory remarks from the Chief Minister, citing past instances where terms like “lowly creature,” “vile person,” and “thug” were used. “Calling someone ‘short’ or ‘unhealthy’ is a derogatory comment. Is the Chief Minister suggesting that short people are not wanted in the Assembly?” he added.
Kanthapuram invoked the legacy of Kerala’s revered leaders, such as former Chief Ministers EMS Namboodiripad and VS Achuthanandan, to challenge Vijayan’s apparent fixation on physical attributes. “Does the Chief Minister believe that only those who are eight feet tall with six-pack abs should be allowed in the Assembly?” he asked, criticising the remarks as not only offensive but also dismissive of Kerala’s progressive ethos. He further questioned whether Vijayan had considered the mental trauma inflicted on those targeted by such insults, accusing him of undermining the state’s achievements.
The Perinthalmanna MLA’s statement highlighted a broader concern about the lack of accountability within the ruling Left Front. “Is there no one in the Left Front to correct a Chief Minister who humiliates people in this manner?” Kanthapuram asked, suggesting that Vijayan’s remarks reflect an outdated mindset. He accused the Chief Minister of speaking “from a dark room, oblivious to the progress and changes Kerala has achieved,” and argued that the comments insulted not only the targeted MLA but also others of short stature working alongside Vijayan.
