Kerala polls: Expelled IUML leader Irshad booked over ‘misogynistic’ remarks against CPI(M) legislator U. Prathibha

The Kayamkulam police on Thursday (March 26, 2026) registered a case against expelled Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader A. Irshad Chakkalassery for allegedly making sexist and misogynistic remarks against Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate U. Prathibha, MLA, at a public meeting.

Alex Varghese, District Collector, Alappuzha, who is also the District Election Officer, conducted a preliminary enquiry into a complaint lodged by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] mandalam committee. Mr. Varghese found prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which deems defamatory or objectionable remarks to be an infringement of election rules. 

The Media Certification and Monitoring Committee verified Mr. Irshad’s “defamatory and sexist” remarks and made a recommendation to Mr. Varghese via the district MCC monitoring panel. 

Mr. Varghese instructed the police to register a case and investigate the matter. Subsequently, the Kayamkulam police recorded Ms. Prathibha’s statement and charged Mr. Irshad with outraging the modesty of a woman and making baseless and misleading statements to unlawfully influence the outcome of poll results.

Officials said the police were poised to issue a notice to Mr. Irshad for questioning. 

UDF on the defensive

The attack on Ms. Prathibha appeared to have put the UDF’s campaign in Kayamkulam on the defensive. Mr. Irshad’s public apology and protestations that his statement was “cherry-picked and broadcast out of context” notwithstanding, the IUML expelled him from the party’s primary membership.

The UDF candidate in the Kayamkulam constituency, M. Liju, apologised for the remarks against Ms. Prathibha. “Mr. Irshad is a good person. Nevertheless, his off-the-cuff remark against a woman, though thoughtlessly articulated, in the heat of the moment, is condemnable,” he added.

The UDF scrambled to salvage the situation, even as the CPI(M) ratcheted up the issue across the State. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan condemned the statement and lauded the IUML for expelling Mr. Irshad.

“The decisive action is reflective of the UDF’s feminist political position. In contrast, the CPI(M) has defended its leaders, including A. Vijayaraghavan, who disparaged UDF women leaders, including Ramya Haridas, K.K. Rema, Achu Ommen, and Veena S. Nair,” he said. 

Mr. Satheesan also said the CPI(M) had not censured Ms. Prathibha, who had allegedly made disparaging comments against women journalists.

Congress leader Uma Thomas also condemned Mr. Irshad’s comments.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) and All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) activists held protest marches in Kayamkulam. 

CM slams remarks

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a press conference at Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam that “the sexist attack” on Ms. Prathibha “mirrored the pernicious misogyny, overt and covert, in the UDF leadership.”

“The defamatory attack had occurred at an election convention attended by AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal,” he said.

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan said the party would “expose the UDF’s ingrained prejudice against women” legally and politically.