Published Nov 09, 2026 | 2:38 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 09, 2026 | 2:38 PM
Mammootty and BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan.
BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan has come out in defence of actor Mammootty following a wave of cyberattacks over the actor’s visit to his residence for his daughter’s wedding, saying those targeting the superstar in the name of the CPI(M) are not genuine party workers but divisive elements pursuing their own agendas.
Speaking to the media, Gopalakrishnan said there was nothing unusual about political leaders and personalities from different ideological backgrounds attending family functions, stressing that personal relationships should not be judged through political affiliations.
He pointed out that Chief Minister VD Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and others had attended his daughter’s wedding and the subsequent reception.
He questioned whether Pinarayi Vijayan would abandon the CPI(M) simply because he had attended a BJP leader’s family function.
“Is Pinarayi Vijayan going to leave the Marxist Party because he attended my daughter’s wedding? By targeting Mammootty, the CPI(M) is only making itself look small,” he said.
Gopalakrishnan maintained that senior CPI(M) leaders would never organise or encourage attacks against Mammootty.
He suspected that those behind the online campaign were people merely using the party’s name, rather than genuine CPI(M) members.
Describing himself as a staunch BJP supporter, Gopalakrishnan said his political convictions had never prevented him from maintaining friendships across party lines.
Recalling his student days at Kerala Varma College, he said he had even won an election with the support of SFI members. He also spoke about his personal relationships with Mammootty and actor Mohanlal, clarifying that the latter could not attend the wedding as he was out of town.
Gopalakrishnan said the presence of political leaders from different ideological backgrounds at family celebrations reflected Keralam’s tradition of social harmony.
He recalled how CPI(M) leader Bindu, who missed the wedding, later came to his house after being reminded by senior party leader A Vijayaraghavan, who was in Delhi at the time.
“There may be people who do not want such bonds of affection and friendship to flourish. My advice is to ignore them,” he said.
Arguing that friendship should rise above caste, religion, politics, language and even differences in personal appearance, Gopalakrishnan said Keralam needed to nurture such relationships rather than allow online attacks to undermine them.
“Friendships between Mammootty, Pinarayi Vijayan and VD Satheesan should be encouraged. What secular Keralam needs today is the politics of friendship,” he added.
This is not the first time that Mammootty, a Left sympathiser, has come under cyberattack.
An earlier controversy dates back to March 2026, when the actor visited the Wayanad Model Township developed for survivors of the 2024 Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides.
A video that surfaced during the visit purportedly showed Mammootty asking CPI(M) Wayanad district secretary K Rafeeq not to stand beside him, expressing concern that people might get the impression that the visit had been organised on behalf of the party.
The footage triggered a backlash on social media, with several Left-leaning accounts directing criticism at the actor.
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(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
