Kerala’s Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas on Wednesday accused the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) of fabricating a controversy over alleged death threats to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming they are desperate for issues to attack the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). The fiery remarks come amid a heated clash in the state assembly, where the UDF staged a protest after the Speaker blocked a discussion on inflammatory comments made by a BJP leader against Gandhi.

The uproar stems from a September 26 television debate, where Printu Mahadevan, a former ABVP leader and BJP figure, allegedly threatened Gandhi during a discussion on protests in Bangladesh and Nepal. Police registered a case against Mahadevan on Monday, and he was granted bail after appearing before a court later that day. The UDF seized the issue, with Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan slamming Speaker A N Shamseer for dismissing their adjournment motion, arguing that a televised death threat holds grave significance.

“Such remarks against anyone, including Rahul Gandhi, for their political work are unacceptable,” Riyas said, condemning the threat. However, he accused the UDF of blowing the issue out of proportion to undermine the LDF’s governance. “The UDF has nothing substantial to criticize, so they’re latching onto this,” he told reporters in Kozhikode. Riyas further claimed that the CPI(M)-led government ensures safety for minorities and secular communities, alleging the UDF is stoking fear to erode public trust.

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Tensions boiled over in the assembly on Tuesday when Shamseer ruled the issue lacked “immediate relevance,” prompting UDF MLAs to erupt in protest, forcing an adjournment. Outside, they demanded Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan clarify if he considered the threat to “shoot Gandhi in the chest” trivial, accusing the LDF of shielding Mahadevan due to an alleged “unholy alliance” with the BJP.

The BJP hit back, with state leader Anoop Antony dismissing the UDF’s claims as “propaganda” and accusing the Congress of twisting Mahadevan’s words. Antony also warned of resistance against police searches at BJP leaders’ homes linked to the case, escalating the political slugfest.

Riyas doubled down, pointing fingers at the RSS for a history of political violence in Kerala, claiming CPI(M) workers have been primary victims. “When we’re in power, Kerala remains a safe haven for all communities,” he asserted, framing the UDF’s agitation as a ploy to destabilize this harmony. The minister’s comments underscore a broader narrative battle, with the LDF portraying the UDF as opportunistic amid a charged political climate.

As Kerala gears up for upcoming local elections, the controversy risks further polarizing the state’s electorate. The UDF’s push to spotlight the Gandhi threat case signals their strategy to paint the LDF as soft on BJP’s alleged aggression, while the ruling front insists it’s a distraction from their governance record. With Mahadevan released on bail and public outrage simmering, the debate shows no signs of cooling, threatening to reshape Kerala’s political fault lines.

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