CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s Body Shaming Remarks Against Opposition MLA Ignite Assembly Row
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sparked a significant controversy in the Kerala Assembly by making remarks widely interpreted as body shaming against an opposition member. The Chief Minister, without explicitly naming the legislator, used the derogatory phrase “someone like an eight-and-a-quarter stack” to mock the member’s short stature.
The incident occurred during a heated session, following the opposition’s boycott of the Assembly proceedings. Addressing the house, Chief Minister Vijayan stated, “There’s a saying in my village, ‘like an eight-and-a-quarter stack.’ Someone of only that height went to attack. It wasn’t with his own physical strength; he wouldn’t be able to with his physical strength. He was going to attack the Watch and Ward, relying on the Assembly’s protection. He even tried to attack the female Watch and Ward.” These comments were made while the Chief Minister was criticizing the opposition’s protest, accusing them of attempting to assault female Watch and Ward staff.
The opposition has vehemently condemned the Chief Minister’s statement, alleging that his words were a direct jibe at the physical appearance of one of its members. In response, the opposition has announced its intention to submit a formal letter to the Speaker, demanding the immediate removal of the body-shaming remark from the official Assembly records.
Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan was quick to react, labeling the Chief Minister’s remark as “politically incorrect.” Satheesan questioned whether the Chief Minister held contempt for individuals of short stature and demanded that Pinarayi Vijayan withdraw his statement and issue an unconditional apology. Furthermore, Najeeb Kanthapuram, another opposition figure, suggested that the Chief Minister’s agitation stemmed from the success of the UDF’s protest. Kanthapuram advised the Chief Minister to reflect on his own conduct before insulting others.