“Coming To The Bathroom With Me?” Pinarayi Vijayan Loses His Cool Over ED Questions

Kerala Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacted sharply to repeated questions from reporters about the Enforcement Directorate's latest move involving him and his family on Wednesday. Vijayan was approached by media personnel at the Kallissery PWD Rest House, where he had stopped while travelling to Changanassery. After initially declining to respond, he became visibly angry when reporters continued asking about the ED action.

The exchange took place during Vijayan's first public appearance before the media after the ED forwarded its findings and supporting material to the Kerala police chief. The agency's communication under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act sought registration of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other applicable laws. The matter reportedly involves Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law and MLA P.A. Mohammed Riyas, among others.

A group of journalists was waiting outside the rest house when Vijayan arrived around noon. Reporters followed him inside and repeatedly raised questions about the ED's move, but he remained silent. As he was about to enter a room, Vijayan turned towards the reporters and retorted, "Are you going to come to the bathroom with me?" He also told them that he had come to the rest house not to meet them.

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Vijayan did not respond to further questions when he later emerged from the rest house and entered his vehicle. He then left for Changanassery, where he was travelling, and was also scheduled to attend a party meeting in Alappuzha district. The brief confrontation came as scrutiny around the ED's findings has intensified, with the agency's communication seeking further legal action in the matter.

Vijayan's limited engagement with the media has been a longstanding feature of his political style. During his decade as Kerala Chief Minister, he discontinued the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, a practice that had been followed for several decades. His approach has generally been to address the media on his own terms rather than respond to questions whenever reporters seek comments.

The latest exchange has drawn attention because of its unusually blunt response to questions concerning the ED proceedings. Vijayan has had several tense interactions with journalists during his political career, including an incident in 2017 involving media personnel in Thiruvananthapuram. The confrontation at the Chengannur rest house has once again highlighted his often-firm approach to media questioning.

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