Idukki (Kerala), April 5 C P Mathew, the chief of the Idukki district Congress committee, reportedly made objectionable remarks about a female party worker during an election campaign in this hill district of Kerala.
The incident occurred while Mathew was addressing a recent campaign meeting for Roy K Paulose, the UDF candidate in the Idukki constituency.
During his speech, the senior Congress leader purportedly referred to a past protest and claimed that he had instructed a former vice president of a village panchayat to tear her own blouse as part of the agitation to implicate political rivals.
Mathew also reportedly mentioned that the woman belonged to an "Adivasi" (tribal) community, and therefore, invoking certain other "sections" might also be necessary.
In the television visuals, several leaders were seen smiling while listening to Mathew's objectionable remarks.
The Congress leadership has yet to respond to the matter.
Elections to the 140 Assembly seats in Kerala will be held on April 9.
