THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader Cherian Philip had shared a Facebook post mentioning that Kairali TV Chairman Mammootty is likely to severe ties with the CPM. Cherian Philip had written in the post that although the CPM used Mammootty for their needs, they did not treat him with respect and that he lost the recognition he deserved at the national level because of his CPM ties. Cherian Philip has now come out with more explanation on this statement.

Cherian Philip's words
'Mammootty is not a member of the CPM. He is a fellow traveler. Mammootty has been the chairman of Kairali channel for 25 years. As the chairman of the channel for 25 years, he has been considered a Left fellow traveler. Suresh Gopi became a Rajya Sabha member. He contested the parliamentary elections, won and became a union minister.

When Mammootty came as a Left fellow traveler, thought he would get a Rajya Sabha seat. He did not get a Rajya Sabha seat in 25 years. Moreover, he received Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan during the time of the government led by Congress. Mammootty has not even received state awards when the CPM was in power. He did not personally benefit from being a CPM supporter. Mammootty is upset about that,' said Cherian Philip.