Kerala CM Vijayan’s Coffee Mug; A Silent Gesture at LDF Satyagraha Sparks Debate.

Thiruvananthapuram; January 2026: As the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala held a day long satyagraha on Monday protesting what it termed the Centre’s “economic blockade” of the State, a silent gesture by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan became a major point of public discussion.

Photographs of the Chief Minister holding a coffee mug bearing the words “Love you to the moon and back” during the protest went viral on social media. The phrase had earlier been used by the survivor in the sexual assault case involving LDF MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, after his arrest. Because of this, many people felt the Chief Minister was showing support for the survivor without speaking openly about the case.

The satyagraha, organised here by the LDF government, was aimed at highlighting alleged financial constraints imposed on Kerala by the Centre. Vijayan remained at the protest venue from 10:00 hours to 17:00 hours and even skipped lunch, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.

Rahul Mamkootathil was arrested around midnight on Saturday – 10th January 2026 by the Crime Branch in connection with a rape case registered against him. Earlier, the Nemom police had registered another sexual assault case based on a complaint filed by the same woman. Following his arrest, the survivor posted an emotional message on social media, expressing gratitude and stating that survivors find the strength to speak out despite “pain, judgment and betrayal”.

In her post, she referred to the alleged forced termination of her pregnancies and mourned the loss of her unborn children, saying God had heard the “cries that never reached the world”. She sought forgiveness from her unborn children, stating that she had trusted the wrong person.

After photographs of Vijayan with the mug surfaced, the survivor also reacted on social media with a brief note, further intensifying public discussion around the Chief Minister’s symbolic gesture. Meanwhile, the Thiruvalla Judicial First Class Magistrate Court has directed the police to produce Rahul Mamkootathil directly before the court on Tuesday. The court is expected to consider both the bail plea filed by the accused and the police application seeking his custody.

The LDF protest saw the participation of Ministers, MLAs and senior leaders of the ruling front. However, the absence of Kerala Congress (M) MP Jose K. Mani at the high-profile event also drew attention. Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan also accused the Union government of imposing restriction of unprecedence that undermine the federal structure of the country. He said the Centre was pushing through extremely harsh measures that should not be implemented in a federal system.

On the otherside, BJP leader Prakash Reddy on Tuesday dismissed Congress leader K C Venugopal’s remark that winning elections in Kerala is a “nightmare” for the BJP, asserting that the party will deliver strong electoral results in the Kerala Assembly elections. He also spoke about the possibility of cooperation between the Congress and the CPI(M) in Kerala to defeat the BJP.

Responding to Venugopal’s statement, Reddy drew parallels with political developments in West Bengal, where the Left had once dominated the political landscape for decades but eventually lost ground.

“KC Venugopal says that winning elections in Kerala is a nightmare for the BJP. A similar situation was there in West Bengal. What happened to the Congress party there after ruling for 50 years? The Communist Party also ruled Bengal for almost Four Decades”, Reddy said to media personnel’s.

Highlighting the BJP’s recent electoral performance in Kerala, he said the party had already defied expectations by securing victory in a key municipal body. “No one expected that we would win one important municipality in Kerala, but we proved everyone wrong”, he added. Last month, the BJP-led NDA made history in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, securing control of the corporation and ending the LDF’s 40-year rule. Furthermore, Reddy added about possible cooperation between the Congress and the CPI(M) in Kerala, saying, “In the coming days, the CPM and Congress might unite in Kerala to defeat the BJP.

Expressing confidence in the party’s prospects, the BJP leader said, “I am confident that we will get good results in Kerala”. The remarks come as the state prepares for its Legislative Assembly elections, expected to be held in April 2026 to elect 140 members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Team Maverick.