Kerala's new chief minister V.D. Satheesan has earned the title of "Pookie CM" from Gen Z social media users after a viral facial expression of the Congress leader went viral.
For those unversed with the Gen Z lingo, Pookie is a term used for someone you love or find cute.
The viral moment occurred when a young reporter asked Satheesan whether his government would fulfill its poll promise of legalising vehicle modifications in the state. The announcement by Satheesan had gone viral among young voters, especially the Gen Z.
Satheesan's immediate facial expression, playfully assuring the reporter that the promise will be kept won the hearts of social media users. He replied that the UDF government made the promise not just to secure votes, but to address the aspirations of the youth in the state.
Soon, social media users started uploading funny reels and troll clips using the CM's "pookie face".
Reacting to the latest social media trend, Satheesan told Manorama News, "The reporter who asked me the question was a young chap. I felt an affection that I usually feel towards my daughter."
Satheesan's outreach towards the press and the public is a marked departure from how his predecessor approached the media. Pinarayi Vijayan, who is now the Leader of Opposition in the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, is known for his sharp responses and even restricted journalist from entering the state secretariat in Thiruvanathapuram during his second term. It drew sharp criticism from the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), which alleged the move as an attempt to control the media.
In the past, Pinarayi made headlines for wrong reasons for his one-line remarks to media personnel, including "mari nilkk" (stay away) and "kadakk purath" (get out). In 2018, when a group of school students approached the former CM for a selfie, he shrugged off a child's hand, saying not to touch him. Later he smilingly posed for a photo with the students.