Overview
- Senior BJP leader and state in-charge Prakash Javadekar called on Natesan in Alappuzha in what the party described as a friendly visit ahead of the Assembly election.
- Natesan recently branded a television reporter a terrorist after an on-camera confrontation and renewed attacks on the IUML over education access in Malappuram.
- Kerala Union of Working Journalists and the DYFI condemned the remark, and the Youth Congress filed a police complaint while activists petitioned the State Police Chief.
- CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said Natesan is not part of the LDF and rebuffed his commentary on the front, as CPI(M)’s M. V. Govindan said the party rejects any anti-minority stand.
- The controversy follows LDF strains over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan giving Natesan a ride in his official car and a continuing war of words between Natesan and the CPI leadership.