A controversy has erupted after some CPM leaders and party workers circulated a picture showing Puthuppally MLA Chandy Oommen standing near BJP councilor Asha Nath during a temple darshan before taking oath in the Assembly. The CPM leaders circulated the photo by alleging that the BJP traded votes to the UDF in Puthuppally. Now, Asha Nath has responded to the controversy.

In her Facebook post, Asha Nath stated that attempts were being made to defame her by cropping the picture that was taken during a program attended by those including CPM councilors.

'If you look at some of my old posts, you can see photos of me attending public functions with a CPM MLA. Will you then circulate those photos and say that the BJP had traded votes to the CPM? Those who are delivering speeches on the security of women on every street are the ones who are now doing a false campaign using a picture clicked during a public event,' Asha Nath wrote.