Thiruvananthapuram, January 24: One of the working president of Congress in Kerala – former Lok Sabha MP K Sudhakaran – on Wednesday attacked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his poor performance in handling the affairs of the state, but evoked a controversy by comparing Vijayan with a woman. Seen as a sexist remark, CPI (ML) polit bureau member Kavita Krishnan condemned Sudhakaran’s statement and sought an apology from him.

The former Lok Sabha parliamentarian from Kannur between 2009 and 2014, Sudhakaran made the controversial statement while inaugurating a state-level picketing programme of the Congress-led UDF in front of the district collectorate in Kasaragod. He said, as reported by Indian Express, “When workers of the CPM eulogised Pinarayi Vijayan as a man with two hearts, even we thought after becoming CM, he would do something like a man. Not only has he failed to act like a man, the reality shows us that he has proved to be worse than a woman.” Misogynistic Professor From Kolkata’s Jadavpur University Puts Up Virgin-Shaming, Sexist Posts on FB, Compares Women’s Virginity With Cold Drink’s Broken Seal.

The leader was elevated to the post of working president of the state in September last year. According to Sudhakaran, while leading the United Democratic Front’s protests on the Sabarimala agitation, had expressed his views that temple traditions must not be disturbed to pave the way for the entry of women of all ages.

However, reacting on the comments of the Congress leader, CPI (ML) polit bureau member Kavita Krishnan asked the Congress party chief on their reply over the sexist remark. She gave the example that on one side Rahul Gandhi inducted Priyanka Gandhi in the party and on the other side, its leaders are making sexist remarks against women. She took to twitter while citing a media report and wrote, “Hey @INCIndia your Kerala MP @ksudhakaranMP says Pinarayi is not manly, & 'worse than a woman'. #headdesk he did this on the same day you made #PriyankaGandhi your GS!! Sexism, untouchability towards women won't stay confined inside Sabarimala, see?”

This is not the first time that Sudhakaran had said something controversial. Earlier, while addressing a press conference last year, he had said that menstruating women were ‘impure’ and their entering the temple at Sabarimala would break the celibacy of the deity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 24, 2019 01:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).