'Didn't ask for selfie, don't distort incident'; Panchayat member clarifies viral incident with CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A video of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan allegedly denying a selfie request from Panchayat member Athira Grace is now circulating on social media. There were rumours that CM Pinarayi Vijayan sternly asked Athira to move aside when she approached the leader for a selfie. The incident happened during the inauguration of the Amboori-Kumbichal Kadavu bridge. Athira Grace, a CPM member from the Vellarada division, has now offered a clarification on the issue.

“There is a fake campaign running on social media. I did not try to take a selfie; I approached him to submit a petition. The Chief Minister did not say anything. Everything else is wrong. I never had the intention of taking selfie. While at that stage, I got a phone call and had to attend to it. The Chief Minister was busy at the time. There is no need to distort it in any other way,” said Athira.