Kerala: IUML's PMA Salam Causes Political Uproar With 'Pinarayi Neither Man Nor Woman' Remark, Party Distances Itself

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state general secretary PMA Salam made a disparaging comment about Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying he “doesn’t belong to either gender,” reported News18.

Salam, speaking at a women's public forum in Vazhakkad, Malappuram, compared Vijayan to his Tamil Nadu and West Bengal equivalents. He claimed that MK Stalin and Mamata Banerjee demonstrated courage by refusing to sign the Centre's PM SHRI program, however Kerala's Chief Minister failed to do so.

Salam remarked, “Tamil Nadu CM Stalin showed us that if you are a man, then you will oppose it. A strong woman like you in West Bengal Mamata Banerjee said that this communal poison won’t be accepted in Bengal. Kerala’s Chief Minister doesn’t belong to the category of either a man or woman and that’s why he decided to sign the scheme.” He added that the state’s “biggest insult” was having such a leader.

The remark triggered sharp criticism, especially from the ruling CPI(M). Education Minister V. Sivankutty condemned the comment as “extremely despicable and insulting to cultural Kerala.”

On social media, he called it “inhuman and anti-democratic,” asserting that such words should never come from a leader of a major political party.

Following the backlash, IUML leaders quickly distanced themselves from Salam’s statement. Party president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal said political criticism should never become personal.

IUML national general secretary PK Kunhalikutty also stated that the party always speaks respectfully of political opponents, adding, “There could be slip of the tongue at times. Our leader has corrected Salam today.” He said the main issue was the state government’s support for an education policy promoting a Hindutva ideology.

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