Daijiworld Media Network - Wayanad/Thrissur
Wayanad/Thrissur, Aug 11: In an unexpected twist of political drama, police in Kerala have received formal complaints declaring two sitting MPs – Priyanka Gandhi (Wayanad) and Suresh Gopi (Thrissur) – as “missing” from their constituencies, sparking a mix of political banter, public criticism, and online ridicule.
The latest complaint was filed on Monday by BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha State President Mukundan Palliyar, who accused Priyanka Gandhi, the newly-elected Congress MP from Wayanad, of being absent for over three months and notably missing during the recent landslide tragedy that claimed several lives in the district. The complaint, lodged with the Wayanad District Police Chief, also claims she has remained silent on ongoing tribal issues affecting the region.
The petitioner has urged the police to "find and produce" the Wayanad MP — a sarcastic nod to typical missing person procedures, now redirected at a parliamentarian.
The complaint came in response to a similar petition filed earlier against Union Minister and BJP MP Suresh Gopi by Kerala Students Union (KSU) Thrissur District President Gokul Guruvayoor, who alleged that the actor-turned-politician has been absent from Thrissur since the arrest of nuns in Chhattisgarh.
The KSU petition filed at Guruvayoor East Police Station even called for identifying "who is behind the disappearance" of the minister.
MPs Hit Back, Social Media Reacts
Adding fuel to the fire, Thrissur Diocese head Yuhanon Mar Meletheos took to social media with a cryptic jab: "The actor we sent to Delhi is missing."
However, Suresh Gopi was quick to respond, posting photos from his Delhi office on Facebook, where he was seen preparing for a Rajya Sabha debate and holding meetings with Petroleum Ministry officials — clearly meant to rebuff the criticism and prove his presence.
Meanwhile, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty added a layer of satire, repeatedly asking online: “Where is the Thrissur MP?”, intensifying the mockery and political heat.
Political Absence or Political Theatre?
While formal complaints about “missing MPs” are rare, the back-to-back petitions targeting two high-profile figures — Priyanka Gandhi, a member of India’s most prominent political family, and Suresh Gopi, a beloved actor-turned-minister — have ignited a larger debate about political accountability and constituency presence.
Critics argue that MPs must remain accessible and visible, especially during local crises. Supporters of the MPs, however, view these complaints as politically motivated stunts meant to embarrass prominent figures from rival parties.
As the saga unfolds, one thing is certain: in Kerala, the political stage is never short on theatrics — or creativity.