The Kochi city police on Saturday (September 26, 2026) allegedly prevented journalists from asking questions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The alleged incident happened when TV journalists were waiting for the Chief Minister’s arrival at an event at a convention centre in Kaloor.

Peter K.J., Assistant Commissioner, Ernakulam subdivision, prevented the journalists from getting near the Chief Minister, citing security reasons.

In a video aired on TV channels, the officer is heard saying that the Chief Minister is someone in the Z Plus security category. He did not give a clear answer to repeated queries from reporters on whether he had received any instruction to prevent journalists from asking questions to the Chief Minister.

“I spoke only from a security aspect. I didn’t get angry at you,” Mr. Peter is heard saying in the video.

The incident comes a day after Mr. Satheesan reportedly lost his cool at journalists who sought answers from him about allegations that he received money from former Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) Managing Director S. Sasidharan Kartha and the controversy over his recent chartered flight to flood-hit Malappuram on a flight lent by a benefactor whose details the chief minister has preferred to withhold.

While coming out of an official meeting at Thodupuzha on Friday (September 24, 2026), the chief minister declined to respond to the media and told the reporters, “Move aside… I am not meeting you.” He also alleged that the reporters were causing inconvenience to the public who had come to hand over petitions to him.

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said that the proposal to make Muvattupuzha a district would be seriously examined and that the government would appoint a Delimitation Commission. He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Triveni’, the Onam celebrations organised by the Muvattupuzha municipality.

While stating that there is some amount of sadness in Muvattupuzha being separated from its home district Ernakulam, the Chief Minister said that the Delimitation Commission would consider the matter and that a solution would be reached regarding all the concerns of the people of Muvattupuzha.

Payment of dues

Speaking at the event, Mr. Satheesan said that despite the challenges, the government has not compromised on Onam celebrations. All outstanding dues are currently being disbursed, he added.

Necessary funds are being provided to people who have been waiting for months for payments or settlement of arrears. Steps have been taken to ensure that all Supplyco Onam fairs are stocked with 13 essential commodities that are available at subsidised rates. This is the reason why there has been no price rise in the market, he said. Everything was planned two months in advance.

Mr. Satheesan said that the goods are being made available at lower prices, and record sales are taking place. He said that Onam is essentially a harvest festival as well, since it originated in an agrarian society, and pointed out that it is celebrated transcending across all barriers of caste, religion, ethnicity, and colour.

Dean Kuriakose, MP, delivered the keynote address at the event presided over by Muvattupuzha MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan.

A total of 71 boats will compete in various categories at the 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race to be held on Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha on Saturday (August 22, 2026).

A total of 22 boats will compete in the Chundan (snake boat) category. The number of boats competing in the other categories include Churulan– 2, Iruttukuthi A– 3, Iruttukuthi B– 16, Iruttukuthi C– 14, Veppu A– 5, Veppu B– 4, Thekkenodi Thara– 1, and Thekkenodi Kettu– 4, according to a release.

The competitions will begin at 11 a.m. The heats for the smaller boats will be held first. Chief Minister V.D Satheesan will inaugurate the event at 2 p.m.

The heats for the Chundan boats and the finals of the smaller boats will be held after the inaugural function at 2 p.m. There will be six heats in the Chundan boat competition. Four boats each will compete in the first four heats while three boats each will compete in the fifth and sixth heats. The four boats recording the best times and finishing first will advance to the final round.

The winners in the categories of the smaller boats will be decided based on the finishing time. The timings will be displayed on a screen so that they can be viewed by the public, it said.

Holiday announced

Alappuzha District Collector Shaji V. Nair has declared a holiday for all government offices and educational institutions in the district on Saturday in view of the boat race. Public examinations will be held as decided earlier.