Congress MLA Ramya Haridas injured in clash with party workers in Kerala (2026-09-05)

A late-night confrontation in Chirayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram, on Friday left Congress MLA Ramya Haridas injured, exposing fresh fault lines within the party's local unit. The incident, which began over a WhatsApp post and a party meeting, has led to police complaints from both sides.

Haridas alleged she was attacked and threatened by local Congress leaders. She sustained injuries and was treated at the Chirayinkeezhu taluk hospital. The police have registered a case against seven party workers, including district panchayat member Sajith Muttambalam and leader Sajad, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A separate case will be filed based on Sajad's complaint.

The dispute reportedly centred on the attendance of Haridas' staff member, Palayam Pradeep, at a block panchayat committee meeting. Haridas said Pradeep is her personal assistant, while Sajad claimed the MLA's assistant is Vimal. Haridas said she had avoided attending conventions of three Congress panels contesting a recent bank election to stay neutral. She alleged Sajad made repeated negative remarks about her on WhatsApp and social media, claiming he said the posts were made at the direction of Sajith and Viswanathan.

According to Haridas, Sajad invited her to his house to discuss the matter. She alleged that Sajith, Adheesh, Binoy and others arrived later, with Sajith behaving aggressively and threatening her. She claimed the leaders had conspired to "destroy us" and that Sajith warned she would not be able to walk back the way she came.

Sajad, however, offered a different account. He said he questioned in a party WhatsApp group why Pradeep attended the block panchayat meeting. He alleged Haridas, Pradeep and others later arrived at his chicken shop and forcibly took him to his house, with some local leaders joining on the way. Sajad claimed a heated argument broke out after Pradeep asked his daughter to read the WhatsApp post aloud, and that Haridas supported Pradeep. He denied inviting her to discuss the matter, saying the scuffle occurred after Haridas moved towards the person recording the incident. Sajad said he and his wife have filed complaints seeking police protection.

The Congress' Thiruvananthapuram district leadership and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee have decided to conduct a preliminary inquiry, with both Haridas and the party workers expected to be heard.