'I am sad that I couldn't use my mother's name too': V D Satheesan on name row

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan said that he intentionally used his full name while swearing-in as the Chief Minister as he wanted to remember his late parents on the occasion.

Satheesan was responding to the row over using his full name -- Vadasseri Damodaran Menon Satheesan -- during the swearing-in on Monday.

"What was wrong in using my father's name? I am sad that I couldn't use my mother's name too. Both of them passed away before I became an MLA. I used my full name to mention my father's name. Since there was no option to tell my mother's name, I said it in my mind. It is a matter of pride to tell our parents names," he said.

A section of people claimed that Satheesan intentionally used the full name to highlight the surname Menon, which is used by the upper caste Nair community.

Critics also pointed out that Satheesan did not use the full name while swearing-in as an MLA during the previous terms. Some Congress and Youth Congress local leaders and activists were also among the critics.