A brief exchange between Malayalam film actor Mammootty and a CPI(M) leader during a visit to a rehabilitation township in Wayanad has triggered controversy on social media, placing Kerala’s ruling party in an awkward position.
Mammootty, who also serves as chairman of the party-backed channel Kairali TV, visited the township in Kalpetta built to rehabilitate survivors of the 2024 Wayanad landslide. The Left government recently inaugurated the project and has highlighted it as a major achievement ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
During the visit on Saturday, CPI(M) Wayanad district secretary K Rafeeq was seen walking alongside the actor and managing the crowd as people gathered around Mammootty. A government official associated with the project was also seen briefing the actor about the township and its features.
In a video that later went viral, Mammootty turned to Rafeeq and asked, “Why are you always standing with me? People may think I have come for you.”
Speaking to the media after the visit, Mammootty described the project as belonging to the people of Kerala. “It is the money of the people of Kerala. It is our project and Kerala’s social capital,” he said. When asked whether people would support the CPI(M) led LDF government, he declined to comment, saying that it was not known.
The video of the exchange drew criticism from social media accounts associated with CPI(M) supporters, who said the remark was disrespectful to Rafeeq, noting his role in relief and rescue efforts after the landslides.
Rafeeq later said Mammootty had called him to clarify the situation and urged that the actor’s visit be viewed positively. He said he had been at the township for another event and stepped in during the visit to manage the crowd.
CPI(M) leader and Kerala Public Works Minister P A Muhammed Riyas said Rafeeq was a social worker who had been active in the rehabilitation effort and added that Mammootty also recognised such contributions regardless of politics.