CPM’s MA Baby defends leaders’ presence at controversial wedding in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby has defended party leaders who attended the wedding of a viral social media star from the Kumbh Mela, a move that sparked significant controversy. In an interview with a private news channel, Baby asserted that the leaders' actions do not warrant self-criticism. He explained their presence by noting that Kerala is a state where individuals can seek refuge and find safety, which is why the couple chose to come here.

Additionally, he addressed concerns regarding the election campaign’s focus, specifically responding to criticisms of featuring Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s face as the primary image of the campaign.

"It is the CPM’s way of supporting mixed marriages. We cannot get bogged down in every technicality, though this incident may help us scrutinise such technicalities in the future. Furthermore, there is no point in criticising the use of Pinarayi’s face; compared to the photos of the candidates, the Chief Minister’s image is featured less. When discussing the achievements of the LDF government, it is only natural to highlight the leader. There is no reason for jealousy. This is simply a push for V.D. Satheesan to show his own face. We have heard what Satheesan and Sudhakaran have said—there is a 'competition of faces' in the opposition, where everyone claims they want no other face. In contrast, there is unity in the Left," Baby stated.

The defence comes amid reports that the "Kumbh Mela viral girl" was a minor at the time of the wedding. Consequently, a POCSO case has been registered against her husband, Farman Khan, at the Maheshwar police station in Madhya Pradesh.

The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Because the girl belongs to the Pardhi tribe, sections of the SC/ST Act have also been applied. These legal actions stem from a complaint filed by her father, Jai Singh Bhosle, to the Madhya Pradesh government and the National Commission.

The marriage took place at the Arumanoor Sri Nainaar Deva Temple in Thiruvananthapuram and was attended by high-profile figures including Education Minister V. Sivankutty, CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan, and A.A. Rahim MP.

While the event was a sensation on social media, hospital records in Maheshwar indicate the girl's date of birth is December 30, 2009. At the time of the marriage on March 11, 2026, she was reportedly 16 years, 2 months, and 11 days old. The police and the commission have reached a preliminary conclusion that the marriage was conducted using a fraudulent birth certificate.