Thiruvananthapuram, June 22 (IANS) A day after being asked to head an ad hoc committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), Ramesh Pisharody, known for his wit and humour, carried the same flair into the Kerala Assembly in his debut speech.

The Palakkad Congress MLA’s maiden speech in the Budget debate made the House laugh, but also delivered pointed political punches.

Pisharody began by thanking the people of Palakkad for electing him, before targeting the Left over its defeat in the constituency. “Palakkad voters proved that people cannot be bought with money,” he said, drawing loud reactions from the Opposition benches and applause from the ruling side.

He added that the election showed farmers and ordinary people could not be won over through money, power or publicity campaigns. Criticising the Left’s political line, he said, “Who else is there apart from the LDF?” describing it as arrogance and an inability to accept others.

The actor-turned-politician recalled his election experience, noting that he was attacked on social media after hugging his rival candidate at a public programme. He said such reactions reflected political intolerance.

Explaining why he chose the Congress, Pisharody referred to India’s progress after Independence, citing the Green Revolution and the growth of the IT sector. He said those questioning Congress’s decades of rule should remember the foundations laid during that period.

He also praised the Budget announcement of a Rs 1 crore memorial for actor Salim Kumar, whom he described as his mentor, but added that a memorial should not be mistaken for just a statue and must serve as a useful public initiative.

Ending his speech with humour, Pisharody said he would not sing praises about the Budget becoming famous worldwide, taking a light dig at slogans used by the Left praising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the past decade.

In his first outing, Pisharody showed he could carry his stage presence into politics with a mix of humour, timing and sharp criticism.

–IANS

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