Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, 12 August launched a sharp attack on the V.D. Satheesan-led Kerala government, accusing it of mishandling the rain and flood crisis and displaying a disturbing lack of political sensitivity toward families who lost their homes and loved ones. The broadside came at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram that also touched on the Messi episode currently generating political heat in the state.

The Core Charge: Ministers Too Slow to Respond

Vijayan said it was unacceptable that ministers took more than 10 days to visit the homes of grieving flood victims. For the former Chief Minister, the delay was not merely administrative — it pointed to a government that had failed to grasp the emotional and humanitarian weight of the disaster.

He argued that relief and rehabilitation cannot be reduced to files, official meetings, and government announcements when families are still in the grip of loss. The criticism was delivered in the familiar Vijayan format: a lengthy exposition, a handful of questions, and an abrupt conclusion once he deemed the session over.

The Political Baggage Vijayan Carries

The attack, however, was not without its own contradictions. Vijayan is no stranger to criticism over disaster management during his own decade in office. During the Ockhi cyclone — which battered Kerala's coastal communities under his watch as Chief Minister — he too faced sharp censure over the timing of his visit to affected areas.

The criticism was particularly acute because families of missing fishermen were desperately seeking answers. On that occasion, he reportedly had to leave in a different vehicle to avoid the anger of the crowd. Critics argue his current offensive carries the weight of that history.

The Messi Row Makes an Appearance

The press conference was not solely about floods. The Messi episode — a controversy that has dominated Kerala's political headlines — came up in questions directed at Vijayan. He offered no elaborate defence or extended political argument, stating simply that he saw nothing wrong in the episode. The response was crisp, and the session moved on.

Notably, when Vijayan appeared to have said all he intended to say, the microphone was switched off — a hallmark of his press interactions.

A Changed Media Equation for Vijayan

The press conference itself reflects a broader shift in Vijayan's political posture. During his decade as Chief Minister, he rarely engaged with the media. Since losing power and assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition, he has made it a point to meet the press at least once a week — sometimes more — using the format as a consistent platform for political pressure on the Satheesan administration.

As Kerala continues to grapple with the aftermath of the floods, the political battle over the state's disaster response is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.