One of the most notable aspects of the controversy surrounding Malhotra's visit to Kerala was the balanced and composed response by the UDF, especially the Congress leadership.
Published Jul 09, 2025 | 7:24 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 09, 2025 | 7:24 PM
Jyoti Malhotra with former Union MoS V Muraleedharan aboard the Vande Bharat.
Synopsis: The BJP in Kerala — which has been attacking the LDF government for inviting travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra to the state — has suddenly found itself on the defensive after a video showed two of its leaders interacting with the same content creator.
Vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, arrested on espionage charges, fuelled BJP’s hopes of cornering the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala: The party’s move boomeranged.
BJP had been firing salvos at the government, and the Tourism Department specifically, for inviting Malhotra, a social media influencer, to Kerala. The invite was to promote the tourism industry through her popular YouTube channel, Travel with Jo.
Former state president K Surendran was vocal in the attack on the government, citing national security concerns, until a video surfaced in the public domain. It showed Malhotra casually interacting with V Muraleedharan, while he was the Union Minister of State for External Affairs.
It later emerged that the video was shot onboard the Vande Bharat Express, during its inaugural run in Kerala in September 2023. A smiling Malhotra was seen asking the former minister for his Vande Bharat Express, to which he responded.
The video did not stop with Muraleedharan. Much to Surendran’s chagrin, he, too, was seen with the vlogger.
South First contacted Surendran for a comment about the video. He chose to remain silent.
After days of continuous attacks against the Kerala government and Tourism Minister Mohammed Riyas, right-wing digital platforms have gone unusually silent on the Malhotra controversy.
One of the salvos that BJP leader K Surendran fired at the government. When South First contacted him, he preferred to remain silent.
Once used by the BJP as a key figure to target the state administration, Malhotra’s role has come under renewed scrutiny after the emergence of the video that triggered a political backfire at the BJP.
The video surfaced at a tense moment, with BJP leaders criticising the Pinarayi Vijayan government for hosting Malhotra, during a state-backed influencer campaign.
However, the new footage showed Malhotra attending an official event alongside BJP leaders, complicating the party’s earlier stance. Her visits to Kerala weren’t limited to one occasion either — she had travelled to the state in January, August, and September 2023.
During the January trip, she reportedly flew from Delhi to Bengaluru and then to Kannur, where she covered cultural sites including the Kashipuram Vanasastha temple and Theyyam performances as part of the state tourism outreach.
This revelation has further intensified the political crossfire between the BJP and the CPI(M) in the state.
Amid the ongoing controversy, Muraleedharan reacted to the viral video. He accused the Kerala government of unnecessarily dragging his name into the issue.
In the video, Malhotra was seen asking for Muraleedharan’s reaction. ”Train travel has become more enjoyable. Tourists can now experience the picturesque landscapes of India. It’s a proud moment for Kerala,” he responded.
”Many people recorded my response during the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat train. This vlogger was just one among them,” he clarified.
Following this, Left-wing cyber spaces have begun trolling Surendran, claiming that in his attempt to attack the Kerala tourism minister, he inadvertently ended up targeting his party leader.
Sarcastic applause for his “political intelligence” has gone viral online.
One of the most notable aspects of the controversy surrounding Malhotra’s visit to Kerala was the balanced and composed response by the UDF, especially the Congress leadership.
While Congress-affiliated online platforms were quick to criticise Riyas, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan adopted a mature approach.
He clarified that neither Riyas nor the Tourism Department could be blamed for her visit. ”She was invited in 2024–25 as a vlogger, not as a spy. How could anyone have known her identity back then? The government would not have invited her had they known the truth,” he said.
However, the Congress has yet to respond to Muraleedharan’s appearance in Malhotra’s vlog.
In contrast, the IUML took a sharper stance. IUML Youth Wing State President PK Firos directly questioned Muraleedharan, asking, ”The Vande Bharat inaugural run was a closed-door event for invitees. How did a person later accused of espionage manage to be there? What explanation does Muraleedharan have?”
YouTuber Malhotra, 33, from Hisar, Haryana, was arrested on 17 May. She has been accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Her YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, has over 3,77,00 subscribers. She covered international travel locations, including those in Pakistan.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
