Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 13 -- As the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala held a day-long satyagraha on Monday protesting what it termed the Centre's "economic blockade" of the State, a silent gesture by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan became a major point of public discussion.

Photographs of the Chief Minister holding a coffee mug bearing the words "Love you to the moon and back" during the protest went viral on social media. The phrase had earlier been used by the survivor in the sexual assault case involving LDF MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, after his arrest. Because of this, many people felt the Chief Minister was showing support for the survivor without speaking openly about the case.

The satyagraha, organised here by the...