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Apology issued after the councillor said “Jai Hind” during an oath-taking ceremony following Kerala’s local body elections.
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BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar says the apology reflects ideological pressure against expressions of patriotism in Left-ruled Kerala.
This episode exposes the deeply ingrained ideological intolerance within the CPI(M)-led LDF ecosystem. That an elected representative instinctively apologised for saying ‘Jai Hind’ points to an atmosphere of fear in LDF-ruled Kerala, in which expressions of national pride are viewed with suspicion. – Editor, HJS
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) — The results of Kerala’s recently held local body elections were followed by oath-taking ceremonies across the state. At an oath-taking ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram, an LDF councillor apologised after raising the slogan “Jai Hind”.
Akhila G. S., elected from the Kurakkanai ward, said “Jai Hind” while expressing her happiness after taking the oath. Moments later, she appeared uneasy and issued an apology. CPI(M)-led LDF workers present at the venue immediately consoled her, stating that any citizen who loves the country has the right to express it and that there was nothing objectionable in the slogan.
An elected LDF councillor in Kerala apologizes for saying Jai Hind right after taking an oath to protect and uphold the Constitution 🇮🇳
Let that sink in.
This is the culture of fear the Left has created where even expressing love for the nation invites punishment, intimidation,… pic.twitter.com/Uc9UN3BYIK
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) December 23, 2025
Reacting to the episode, the BJP said that the incident reflected a broader ideological culture in the state. BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar termed it a “culture of fear”, arguing that the councillor’s apology revealed how expressions of patriotism invite punishment, intimidation and public humiliation in Left-ruled Kerala.
He further stated that the CPI(M) and its INDI bloc ally, the Congress, frequently lecture others on tolerance while branding the BJP as “intolerant”; but INDI’s tolerance ends where patriotism begins.
