Sarin’s ‘handshake’ campaign after Congress leaders refused to shake hands with him

P. Sarin Photo Credit: KK Mustafah

India’s ruling Communist Party (Marxist)’s [CPI(M)] Palakkad by-election candidate P. Sarin launched a “handshake campaign” on Tuesday to highlight his Congress rival Rahul Mamkootathil’s recent decision to refuse to shake hands at a function here.

Mr. Mamkootathil, however, brushed aside his Congress party colleague’s campaign with a smile.

On the other hand, Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor said that he extends his hand to anyone who comes before him saying “that’s how you really show respect.” At the same time, he said that there are reasons behind certain situations where such respect cannot be shown.

Mr. Sarin, who was the convenor of digital media of the Congress, was expelled from the party following his rebellion by asking Mr. Mamkootathil instead of contesting the Palakkad election.

After that, the CPI(M) took him to its seat and nominated him as an independent from Palakkad.

Recently at a wedding in Palakkad, Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil and Mr. Mamkootathil, who is also Youth Congress state president, greeted former party leader AV Gopinathan, but did not shake hands with Mr. Sarin who was standing next to him. he even went and called them from behind, according to pictures shown on television channels.

Speaking about this incident, Mr. Sarin said, “This (handshake campaign) will help us gauge the public’s reaction to what happened and whether people think we did something wrong.” Whether they apologize to me or not, they should apologize to the people.” He also said that Mr. Mamkootathil’s action now will stop people from giving him a hand.

Mr. Sarin also participated in the UDF elections by jumping and dancing like a “baby monkey” to the instructions and songs of Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan and Mr. Parambil.

According to what is seen on TV channels, Mr. Parambil and Mr. Mamkootathil, just after ignoring the handshake of Mr. Sarin, called the Left Candidate’s move “an act aimed at creating news”.

“I have integrity in my actions. I can’t do it this way to create news for TV channels,” said Mr. Mamkootathil, referring to the request of Mr. Sarin handshake.

The UDF candidate had also said that those who said they did not want a ‘hand’ (referring to the political symbol of the Congress) asked for a hand and asked why it was so.

The Election Commission of India has postponed the Palakkad Assembly polls from November 13 to November 20, citing the Kalpathy Ratholsavam festival.