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Thrissur, Kerala | September 15, 2025– Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, is under fire for an allegedly dismissive encounter with a senior citizen during a public outreach event in Thrissur last week, intensifying scrutiny on the BJP’s lone Kerala MP amid ongoing political tensions in the state.
The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, shows Kochu Velayudhan, a 72-year-old resident of Pullu village in Thrissur district, approaching Mr. Gopi with a handwritten petition seeking urgent aid to repair the collapsed roof of his dilapidated home. Mr. Velayudhan, who lives with his ailing wife and two children in a makeshift lean-to after heavy rains destroyed their shanty, appeared visibly distraught as the minister reportedly rejected the plea with a curt gesture, prompting the elderly man to retreat in apparent shame amid flashing cameras.
Eyewitnesses and local media described the moment as “heartbreaking,” with Mr. Velayudhan later recounting to reporters that he “slunk back home in shame” after the interaction. The video, which surfaced online on September 10, has garnered thousands of views and sparked a wave of criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups, and netizens, who accused Mr. Gopi of insensitivity toward vulnerable constituents.
V. Abdul Khadar, Thrissur district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], condemned the minister’s behavior as “arrogant and detached,” urging an immediate apology and intervention to address the family’s plight. “This is not leadership; it’s a betrayal of the people who elected him,” Mr. Khadar said in a statement, highlighting the irony given Mr. Gopi’s high-profile 2024 Lok Sabha victory in Thrissur by over 74,000 votes – a historic breakthrough for the BJP in Kerala.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time for Mr. Gopi, a popular Malayalam film actor turned politician, who has faced multiple allegations since his election. These include claims of voter list manipulations, misuse of religious symbols during campaigning, and offering inducements to voters – issues currently under review by the Kerala High Court. In August, protests erupted in Thrissur over purported fake voter enrollments in apartment complexes, with opposition leaders from the Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF accusing the BJP of electoral foul play to secure the seat.
In response to the latest backlash, Mr. Gopi took to social media on Sunday, posting a terse defense: “Grateful for the spotlight, but let’s focus on real progress, not scripted drama.” He did not directly address the petition or Mr. Velayudhan’s situation, instead pivoting to his ministry’s initiatives on rural housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Local BJP leaders echoed this, dismissing the video as “selectively edited” and part of a “coordinated smear campaign” by rivals ahead of potential by-elections.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose LDF government has clashed repeatedly with the BJP, weighed in during a press briefing in Thiruvananthapuram, calling the episode “a stark reminder of the disconnect between New Delhi’s power corridors and Kerala’s ground realities.” Congress MP from nearby Chalakudy, Benny Behanan, demanded a probe into the minister’s public interactions, questioning whether such conduct aligns with his oath to serve the people.
As of Monday, no official intervention has been announced for Mr. Velayudhan’s home repair, though local NGOs have stepped in with temporary relief materials. The family, speaking from their rain-damaged shelter, expressed hope for swift government aid, with Mr. Velayudhan stating, “I just wanted a roof over our heads – not headlines.”
The row underscores broader challenges for the BJP in Kerala, where it remains a marginal player despite Mr. Gopi’s win. With the state assembly polls looming in 2026, incidents like this could erode the party’s fragile foothold in the culturally vibrant Thrissur belt, known for its syncretic traditions and fierce political rivalries.
Mr. Gopi’s office has yet to schedule a follow-up visit to the constituency, leaving residents and observers to wonder if the minister’s star power will translate into tangible support for those in need.
