A controversy erupted after a video showed senior Congress leader Cheriyan Philip attempting to hug Kollam MLA Bindhu Krishna at the Congress Legislative Party meeting held at Indira Bhavan. The incident, captured by media cameras, showed Bindhu Krishna clearly uncomfortable as Philip tried to embrace her despite her visible resistance.

In the footage, Bindhu Krishna was walking inside after speaking to the media when Cheriyan Philip approached her. What began as an attempted handshake turned into an unwelcome embrace. Bindhu Krishna pulled away, pushed his hand aside, and clearly expressed her discomfort. However, Philip persisted and tried to hug her again, triggering widespread criticism across social media platforms.

Following the backlash, Cheriyan Philip issued a statement on Facebook explaining his side of the incident. He said that he was overcome with excitement from the election victory and acted out of pure joy. Philip claimed he had hugged all Congress MLAs, regardless of gender, as a gesture of affection. He expressed regret if his actions were perceived as inappropriate and requested the public to consider his intentions kindly.

Philip also expressed frustration at what he called a deliberate mischaracterization of his actions. He alleged that political rivals and certain vested interests were trying to portray him as a womanizer. In his note, Philip reminded the public of his personal life marked by simplicity and solitude, describing himself as someone living a near-ascetic life.

Despite his explanation, women’s organizations and political observers strongly condemned the incident. Critics pointed out that even after Bindhu Krishna publicly expressed her disagreement, Philip continued to intrude into her personal space. The incident has raised serious questions about women’s safety and the need to respect personal boundaries, even within political spaces.