Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan defends remarks on G. Sudhakaran, calls him ‘class traitor’ amid election row

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan defends his remarks on G. Sudhakaran, labeling him a 'class traitor' amid election tensions.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has clarified his recent remarks on former CPI(M) leader G. Sudhakaran, who is contesting as an Independent candidate in Ambalappuzha with UDF support in the Kerala Assembly elections, that labelled him a “chetta” (a derogatory term in Malayalam).

Addressing a press conference in Kattappana, Idukki, on Tuesday (March 24, 2026), Mr. Vijayan stated that he was only criticising “political betrayal.”

“I criticised his (Mr. Sudhakaran’s) political cheating; he is a class traitor. What else can we call such a person? He cheated the CPI(M), and it is a classic example of political betrayal,” Mr. Vijayan said.

He further questioned the backlash over his choice of words, adding, “I do not know when the word ‘chetta’ became considered foul language.”

Responding to questions regarding the LDF’s stance on women’s issues, Mr. Vijayan asserted that the government consistently stands by victims. Without explicitly naming anyone, the Chief Minister criticised “a politician” accused of sexually exploiting women across the State.

“We are with the victims on every occasion. On the other side, Opposition leaders have supported such perverts. The CPI(M) and the government always support these women, while the Congress has backed sexual offenders,” Mr. Vijayan said.