CPM Leader Lasitha Nair, who made ‘intensity’ remark, defeated in Pandalam Municipality

Pathanamthitta: Lasitha Nair, a prominent CPM women’s leader who gained notoriety for her remarks on the “intensity of harassment,” has been defeated in the recent municipal elections. Nair, who previously served as the opposition leader in the Pandalam Municipality and holds the position of Pathanamthitta District Secretary for the All India Mahila Association, lost in the 8th ward of the Pandalam Municipality. Her opponent, Haseena S of the Congress party, emerged victorious in the contest.

Nair’s controversial statements comparing allegations against MLA Mukesh and Youth Congress leader Rahul Mankootathil had drawn significant political backlash. She had controversially differentiated between the two situations, terming the allegations against MLA Mukesh as ‘less intense harassment’ and those against Rahul Mankootathil as ‘highly intense harassment’. Furthermore, Nair had stated that the CPM had not officially acknowledged the allegations against Mukesh as harassment.

During the height of the controversy, Lasitha Nair had defended the party’s stance by arguing that MLA Mukesh was not facing any action due to a lack of clear evidence or formal complaints against him. She emphasized that the two cases were distinct in their backgrounds and that Mukesh’s matter was being handled by the law. Nair also clarified that the CPM’s standard practice is to forward any complaints received to the police, as the party itself does not impose punishments. This electoral defeat follows closely on the heels of these widely debated remarks.