‘Dash Mone’ remark by Pinarayi Vijayan triggers political row with Revanth Reddy

Tensions between Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy have escalated into a public war of words marked by sharp exchanges and cinematic references.

Speaking at the ‘Janavidhi 2026 – Meet the Leader’ event organised by the Kannur Press Club on Tuesday, Vijayan sharply criticised Reddy, using the phrase “Dash mone Revantha… the answer is coming,” in response to the latter’s “Po mone Vijaya” jibe made during the campaign for the Kerala Assembly elections.

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Vijayan’s remarks came after journalists drew his attention to comments made by Reddy about him. During the press conference, Vijayan emphasised that there are certain etiquettes a Chief Minister should follow.

He said that while he would ordinarily avoid responding to such remarks, the public nature of Reddy’s comments necessitated a reply. He added, “Dash mone Revantha… the answer is coming.” The exchange comes amid an intensifying verbal duel between the two leaders over Kerala’s development record.

The phrase “dash mone” (often used in Kerala as a substitute for a swear word before “mone,” meaning “son”) is considered highly offensive in Malayalam. Vijayan’s remark has sparked controversy across the state.

Reddy’s campaign for the Congress-led UDF in Thiruvananthapuram on April 1 had earlier drawn attention when he used a popular dialogue from a Mohanlal film: “Nee po mone… Dinesha” (“You go, Dinesha”). Addressing an enthusiastic crowd despite the scorching heat, he followed it with, “Nee po mone Vijaya (You go, Vijaya), your time is over,” drawing loud applause.

Reddy claimed that the “expiry date” of the Vijayan government was over and that it was now time for the Congress and the UDF. He predicted a clear victory for the UDF in the upcoming elections. He also alleged that Kerala is in decline, citing corruption, administrative inefficiency, and nepotism. Reddy challenged the LDF to compare its achievements with his government’s initiatives in Telangana, including farm loan waivers and welfare schemes.

Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan reacted strongly to Vijayan’s “dash mone” remark, suggesting that the Chief Minister had “lost his balance.” He said it was “fortunate” that the Chief Minister stopped at “dash mone” and did not use more offensive language, adding that doing so would have embarrassed the entire state.

Satheesan further criticised Vijayan’s past remarks, alleging that he had previously used derogatory terms for political figures, including referring to T. P. Chandrasekharan as “kulamkuthi,” N. K. Premachandran as “paranari,” and a long-time associate as “parama chetta,” all of which he described as inappropriate and unbecoming of a public leader.