Published Apr 07, 2026 | 4:56 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 07, 2026 | 4:56 PM
Revanth Reddy (L) and Pinarayi Vijayan. Credit: x.com/revanth_anumula, x.com/pinarayivijayan
Synopsis: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level, but many felt that the barbs they exchanged on the state’s election battlefield, where their parties are pitted against each other, have crossed the limits of political decency.
The political temperature in poll-bound Kerala has sharply risen after a fresh verbal duel between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy, with both leaders trading barbs that quickly grabbed public attention.
At a press conference in Kannur, Vijayan responded to repeated challenges from Reddy for an open debate.
Holding back a full-fledged reply for now, the Kerala Chief Minister issued a cryptic yet sharp remark: “Dash mone Revantha… marupadi varunundu” (___son Revantha… a reply is coming).
The statement, delivered in a restrained but loaded tone, hinted that a detailed political counterattack is on the way. Dash mon in Malayalam refers to a profanity.
The backdrop to this exchange lies in Reddy’s recent campaign appearance in Thiruvananthapuram.
During a roadshow supporting Nemom candidate KS Sabarinadhan, Reddy mocked Vijayan using a popular punchline inspired by Mohanlal-starrer movie, “Nee po mone Vijaya”.
He went further, claiming that Vijayan’s “expiry date is here” and that the UDF is poised to take power in Kerala.
Vijayan, however, pushed back strongly—though with measured words.
He remarked that Kerala has “nothing to learn” from a government that allegedly cuts salaries and pensions, a veiled swipe at Telangana’s governance under Reddy.
Instead, he asserted that it is Reddy who should study Kerala’s welfare model, even extending an invitation for the Telangana Chief Minister to visit and understand the state’s approach.
To this, Revanth issued a six page letter and again mentioned his “Ne po mone Vijaya” remark.
Earlier in the same press meet, Vijayan struck a more statesmanlike note, emphasising that individuals holding constitutional positions are expected to maintain a certain level of decorum.
Without naming specifics, he suggested that Reddy should introspect whether his recent remarks met those standards.
Earlier, another controversy involving Union Minister Suresh Gopi was there as he remarked “Matte mon” (that son) during a public speech while referring AIIMS.
The repeated use of such colloquial—and often provocative—phrases by top political figures has sparked discussions about the changing tone of political discourse in the state.
