A controversy erupted online on Sunday after Malayalam superstar Mammootty’s visit to the newly built township for landslide survivors in Wayanad, with the actor facing criticism on social media. Senior leaders of the ruling CPM, however, sought to play down the row.The issue reportedly arose after Mammootty expressed displeasure with CPM’s Wayanad district secretary K Rafeeq standing close to him during the actor’s personal visit to the township on Saturday. According to reports, Mammootty, often considered a fellow traveller of the Marxist party, asked Rafeeq why he was standing near him and remarked that people might assume he had come there on behalf of the ruling party.Soon after, the actor faced intense criticism online, allegedly from Left-leaning social media accounts.CPM leaders and ministers P A Mohammed Riyas and P Rajeev responded to the development but avoided offering a direct response to the controversy.Speaking to a TV channel, Riyas said CPM district secretaries do not go around intruding into places unnecessarily. He said Rafeeq was a social activist who had actively participated in relief and rehabilitation work following the landslide in Wayanad and had visited the township on Saturday in that capacity.Stating that Mammootty recognises such individuals cutting across political lines, Riyas also said the actor had visited the township to independently understand the situation there.Meanwhile, minister Rajeev, speaking to reporters in Kochi, praised Mammootty for making time to visit the township despite his busy schedule. He said the actor’s visit had helped bring further visibility to the government’s township project for landslide survivors.However, Congress leader Cherian Philip alleged that the online attacks on Mammootty by CPM supporters were “cruel”.In a statement, Philip said the backlash began after Mammootty remarked that the township had been constructed using public funds belonging to all sections of Kerala’s society.Philip also alleged that when the actor made a private visit to the township, some CPM leaders attempted to turn it into a party publicity exercise, which led to Mammootty expressing displeasure. He added that the actor is a matter of pride for the people of Kerala and criticised attempts to target him politically.Later in the day, Rafeeq posted on Facebook urging everyone to end the debates and arguments surrounding the issue.He said Mammootty had personally called him and clarified the matter.According to Rafeeq, he had been present at the township in connection with another programme when the actor arrived. As a public worker, he said, he had stepped in cautiously to ensure that the crowd and commotion did not cause any inconvenience to Mammootty.“As a public worker, it is always our practice to receive visitors who come to the township if we happen to be present there. However, I understood that he was pointing out that such actions could sometimes be interpreted differently,” he said.Rafeeq said the issue escalated after some media outlets and right-wing groups portrayed it in a personally insulting manner.“I respect the good intentions of all those who reacted emotionally on this issue,” he said.However, he appealed to everyone not to allow the controversy to overshadow the significance of the township project, which he said was built through the government’s willpower, humanity and compassion and could serve as a model for the world.He also requested that Mammootty’s visit be discussed only in a positive manner and that all controversies be brought to an end.“Mammootty has personally clarified to me that he never intended to insult me,” he said, urging everyone to end all debates and arguments related to the issue.Mammootty on Saturday made an unexpected visit to the newly built township for landslide survivors in the hill district and interacted with residents and officials there.The actor visited several completed houses in the township, inaugurated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan last week, and spoke to beneficiaries and local residents.The ‘Amaram’ actor later said the township reflected the collective effort and compassion of the people of Kerala for those who had lost everything in the landslide disaster. What we see here is the compassion and social capital of the people of Kerala, he said.Survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide received a fresh start after the Kerala government handed over new homes to 178 families on March 1.Chief minister Vijayan inaugurated the first phase of the Wayanad Model Township at Elton Estate, bringing relief to families who had spent months living in rented houses and temporary shelters after the disaster.In the first phase, 178 houses were handed over to families whose homes were completely destroyed in the July 30, 2024 disaster.