Advertorial tracing Ramesh Chennithala’s political odyssey raises eyebrows in UDF circles

A full-page advertorial in an English-language newspaper, seeking to spotlight senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala’s political odyssey from his days as a Kerala Students Union (KSU) activist to his rise as a national leader, raised eyebrows in the United Democratic Front (UDF) circles on Sunday.

The article also opened Mr. Chennithala’s office to criticism that the advertorial was a puff piece designed to serve a political purpose ahead of the declaration of the Assembly election results on May 4. However, his office has categorically denied any role. “Neither Mr. Chennithala nor his office had commissioned the advertorial,” a spokesperson for the leader told The Hindu.