Row over candy distribution by MLA V Muraleedharan

T’puram: Kazhakoottam MLA V Muraleedharan has courted a controversy after a video surfaced on social media platforms in which he is seen dropping candies on the desk in front of students at Ambedkar memorial govt tribal LP school here on the school reopening day on Tuesday.

In the video, the MLA was seen pouring candies from a plastic cover in front of students. Critics, especially CPM social media handles, claimed that the MLA’s actions were an insult to the children. Instead of dropping the candies, he should have placed the candies in the hands of little students in front of him, they said. Former education minister V Sivankutty was also among those who accused Muraleedharan of showing gross disrespect to the children.

However, Muraleedharan denied the charges and said those trying to create a controversy over the incident are insulting the children themselves. “The MLA first presented one candy to a child. When the children expressed desire to have more candies, the MLA emptied the candy pack on the desk, letting children to have as many as candies they wanted to have,” claimed Muraleedharan’s office.