KOCHI – The political landscape in Kerala has been rocked by sensational but unverified reports of an alleged affair between a prominent CPM MLA and a woman party leader in Kochi. The claims, which first appeared in a local newspaper without naming the individuals, allege that the woman leader’s husband and locals caught the two together.
The news has since gone viral on social media, sparking intense speculation about the identities of the individuals involved. The woman leader, who was a candidate in a recent election, and the MLA are said to have been caught last Sunday at her home in Paravur.
According to the reports, the woman leader’s husband had left for a meeting, telling his wife he would return late at night. The MLA then reportedly arrived at the house in a private car, which he parked at a distance. However, the husband unexpectedly returned home in the afternoon. When he tried to enter the house with a spare key, he found the door locked from inside.
He attempted to call his wife, and heard the phone ringing inside but received no answer, which made him fear for her safety. He then gathered locals and broke open the door, only to find the MLA in the bedroom. The reports claim the husband then pushed the MLA to the floor after he tried to offer an explanation.
Leaders Deny Allegations, Point Fingers
The reports have prompted strong reactions and a political blame game. K.J. Shine, the LDF candidate for the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency, has publicly stated that she is the target of a malicious campaign using her name and image. In a Facebook post, she announced her intention to file a complaint with the Chief Minister, the State Police Chief, and the Women’s Commission, promising to provide evidence against social media handles and media outlets spreading the false news.
Meanwhile, CPM Ernakulam District Secretary S. Satheesh has come out in support of Shine, accusing the Congress party of fabricating the allegations. He stated that the smear campaign is a “gearing-up” tactic by the Congress to deflect attention from allegations against their own leader, Rahul Mankootathil, and to revive their party. Satheesh pledged full legal support for both Shine and the MLA, asserting that they will take legal action against the perpetrators.
In response, Ernakulam DCC President Mohammed Shiyas vehemently denied the allegations against Congress. He stated that the claims by the CPM District Secretary are baseless and called on him to withdraw the accusation. Shiyas pointed out that the news first appeared in a non-Congress newspaper and is likely an internal issue within the CPM, which the party is trying to pin on the opposition.
In a separate statement, the unnamed MLA, Unnikrishnan, condemned the “baseless allegations” and “malicious campaign” targeting his personal and political life. He identified a Facebook post by a person named C.K. Gopalakrishnan as the source of the false reports. The MLA also echoed the sentiment that the campaign is a “Goebbelsian tactic” by the right-wing to tarnish the Left and Communist movement. He has urged supporters to dismiss the rumors and has stated that he will pursue legal recourse against those responsible for the smear campaign.
