Kerala Home Minister Chennithala demands BJP councillor Sreelekha apologise to Rahul Gandhi
Synopsis
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has publicly demanded that BJP councillor R. Sreelekha apologise to Rahul Gandhi after she allegedly compared his protest conduct to drug-induced 'Thandava' — a reference that Congress leaders say insults both Gandhi and Hindu religious sentiment. With multiple police complaints now filed, including by Youth Congress and a UDF councillor, the row is fast escalating from a political spat into a potential legal proceeding.
Key Takeaways
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on 15 October demanded BJP councillor R.
Sreelekha retract defamatory remarks against Rahul Gandhi and apologise.
Sreelekha allegedly compared Gandhi's protest conduct to drug-induced agitation at a BJP meeting in Punalur, Kollam on Wednesday , invoking the sacred term 'Thandava' .
Sabarinadhan filed a complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner ; Youth Congress state vice-president Vishnu Sunil Pandalam separately approached the Director General of Police .
A third complaint has reportedly been registered in Kollam .
Sreelekha had also briefly resigned as a BJP councillor before withdrawing that resignation, adding to political turbulence.
Police action on the complaints is awaited and is expected to determine the next course of the row.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday, 15 October demanded that BJP councillor R. Sreelekha retract her defamatory remarks against Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and tender an unconditional apology. The demand came as multiple complaints mounted against the councillor for allegedly insulting the Congress leader and hurting Hindu religious sentiments.
What Triggered the Controversy
The row erupted after Sreelekha, speaking at a BJP protest meeting in Punalur in Kollam district on Wednesday, allegedly compared Gandhi's conduct during a protest in New Delhi to the agitation associated with drug consumption. She specifically invoked the term 'Thandava' — the divine cosmic dance of Lord Shiva — to describe his behaviour, a comparison that Congress leaders condemned as both an insult to Gandhi and an affront to Hindu religious sentiment.
What the Kerala Home Minister Said
Chennithala did not mince words in his response. 'What happened to her? Rahul Gandhi is a prominent Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition whom people across India admire, respect and hold in high regard. She should withdraw her remarks against Rahul Gandhi and render an apology,' he said. He also took a pointed dig at Sreelekha's political instability, adding: 'One day she resigns and the next day she withdraws her resignation,' referencing her brief decision to quit as a BJP councillor before walking back that move — an episode that had itself stirred political controversy in Kerala.
Complaints Filed with Police
UDF leader and councillor K.S. Sabarinadhan on Thursday lodged a formal complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner, alleging that Sreelekha's remarks insulted Gandhi and hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. He had earlier warned of legal action if the statement was not withdrawn. Separately, Youth Congress state vice-president Vishnu Sunil Pandalam filed a complaint with the Director General of Police, seeking registration of a case against the councillor. Reports also indicate that another complaint has been registered against her in Kollam in connection with the same remarks.
Political Backdrop
The episode unfolds against a backdrop of political tension in Kerala, where Sreelekha's brief resignation and its withdrawal had already drawn attention to fissures within the state BJP. Notably, the invocation of the 'Thandava' — a sacred concept in Hindu tradition — in a pejorative context has broadened the controversy beyond partisan lines, drawing condemnation from religious quarters as well. This is not the first time a BJP functionary's remarks about Gandhi have ignited a multi-front political row in the state.
What Happens Next
Police action on the multiple complaints is expected to determine the next course of the controversy. As of Thursday, Sreelekha had not issued a public apology or retraction. The Congress has indicated it will continue to press for accountability, and further legal steps remain likely if the statement stands.
Point of View
Including one filed directly with the DGP, signals that the Congress and its allies intend to push this beyond rhetoric. Sreelekha's on-again, off-again resignation only deepens the impression of a BJP unit in Kerala struggling to manage its own ranks — and the timing could not be worse for the party's state organisation.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP councillor Sreelekha say about Rahul Gandhi?
Sreelekha allegedly compared Rahul Gandhi's conduct during a protest in New Delhi to the agitation caused by drug consumption, invoking the term 'Thandava' — the sacred cosmic dance of Lord Shiva — in a pejorative context at a BJP meeting in Punalur, Kollam on Wednesday.
Why has the remark hurt Hindu religious sentiments?
The 'Thandava' is considered a divine and sacred concept in Hindu tradition, representing the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. Using it to describe drug-induced behaviour has been condemned as a desecration of a revered religious symbol, prompting outrage beyond partisan Congress circles.
Who has filed police complaints against Sreelekha?
UDF councillor K.S. Sabarinadhan filed a complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner, Youth Congress state vice-president Vishnu Sunil Pandalam approached the Director General of Police, and a third complaint has reportedly been registered in Kollam.
Why did Sreelekha resign and then withdraw her resignation?
Reports indicate Sreelekha briefly resigned her position as a BJP councillor before subsequently withdrawing that resignation. The episode had already triggered a separate political controversy in Kerala before the Thandava remarks added a new flashpoint.
What action is expected next?
Police are expected to act on the multiple complaints filed against Sreelekha, which will likely determine the legal and political trajectory of the row. As of Thursday, Sreelekha had not publicly apologised or retracted the remarks.
