Row over 'toddy tapper' remark against Kerala CM by Congress MP

The remark of Congress MP from Kerala K Sudhakaran that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who hailed from a toddy tapper family now prefers hiring a helicopter to travel has triggered a row.

While Congress leaders have also flayed Sudhakaran’s statement, there were reports that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi summoned Sudhakaran over the issue.

However, Sudhakaran stuck to his statement. He asked what was wrong in referring to the background of Pinarayi Vijayan who hailed from a toddy-tapping family as toddy tapping was also a profession like agriculture or handloom. He said that he was pointing out how a leader for the labour classes has changed when he got power.

It was while addressing a public meeting in Kerala the other day that Sudhakaran made the controversial remark. While opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that Sudhakaran should have avoided such comments, Congress MLA Shanimol Osman said that Sudhakaran should tender an apology for the insulting remark.

Many CPM leaders also flayed Sudhakaran’s statement and the DYFI also staged a protest against him