Kerala CPM’s Kodiyeri Balakrishnan lands in trouble after sexist remarks

CPM Kerala party secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was asked at the state party meeting in Kochi whether the party would reserve 50% seats in the state committee for women. He responded by asking if the question was intended at destroying the party.

CPM Kerala party secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has landed in trouble after making sexist remarks at the state party meeting being held in Kochi. The incident happened mere minutes after presenting CPM’s vision for a woman-friendly Kerala on Thursday, March 3.

The remark, which is now being widely criticised, was made while he was responding to a question by a delegate on whether the party would reserve 50% of the seats on the state committee for women.

Kodiyeri, rather unexpectedly, responded by asking if the question was asked with the intention of destroying the party.

A short while before the question was asked, Balakrishnan had said that the party intended to bring in more women to the state committee as per the new policies.

Kodiyeri’s remarks came at a time when the party secretariat saw severe criticism from women leaders like the higher education minister Bindu. She said that some of the party members had a patriarchal mindset.

In fact, the minister had openly slammed some leaders' attitudes towards women leaders. She also said that when such issues are brought up as complaints, they aren’t addressed properly.

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