The ‘Puthuyuga Yatra’ led by Kerala’s Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan has been attracting large crowds, but a scuffle broke out on the dais during a program in Kuttiady. This incident highlighted the internal power struggle within the state Congress unit. The Yatra, aimed at gearing up for the upcoming Assembly polls in April/May, is touring the state.
The incident at Kuttiady briefly shifted the focus from political messages to concerns about on-stage discipline within the Congress party. A controversy arose during a reception meeting when a district party official invited Satheesan to speak, leading to objections from Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil. Parambil, who was supposed to speak earlier, disagreed with the decision to have Satheesan speak first.
Tensions escalated as leaders crowded around the microphone, with Parambil intervening to delay the proceedings. Amid the chaos, veteran Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran reportedly lost his balance and fell. Satheesan eventually delivered his address, while Parambil made a brief statement emphasizing the importance of Kuttiady in the upcoming elections.
District Congress President K. Praveen Kumar downplayed the incident, attributing it to delays and a large turnout. However, videos of the scuffle went viral, providing fodder for critics who have often mocked the Congress in Kerala for stage overcrowding and leadership clashes.
