Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 15 (TNN): The controversial jeep ride by AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday at Alappuzha has become a political row with the CPM and BJP demanding registration of a case against him for violating traffic and road safety rules.

As part of the Yuva Kerala Yatra by Youth Congress state president Dean Kuriakose, Rahul had travelled atop a police jeep for some distance at Nooranad.

CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan unleashed a scathing attack on Rahul by calling him a buffoon.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Vijayan asked whether the Congress proposed a buffoon as the prime minister. "Who granted permission to Rahul Gandhi for travelling atop a jeep? Will the transport commissioner -- who even insists registering cases against traffic rule violations in cinemas -- register a case against Rahul?" Vijayan asked.

BJP spokesperson V V Rajesh demanded that a case should be registered against Rahul for violating traffic rules.

However, the Congress retorted that the criticism against Rahul stemmed from the panic he had created among the opposition in the state. "The CPM was panicked by the response Rahul Gandhi received from the people here," said KPCC president and home minister Ramesh Chennithala.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Youth Congress state general secretary Mujeeb Rahuman went a step ahead and lodged a complaint with Nooranad police against Rahul Gandhi and state Youth Congress president Dean Kuriakose for travelling atop a police vehicle during the Yuva Kerala Yatra. According to Mujeeb Rahuman, as per Section 123 (2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1998, travelling atop a vehicle is illegal and punishable.

"They caused lot of inconvenience to the people. Apart from it, they also misused the police vehicle for political campaign. So I have lodged a complaint with Nooranad sub inspector demanding to register a case against them," said Mujeeb. But the police refused to accept the complaint. District police chief Uma Meena said there was no security lapse during Rahul's trip and they don't intend to register any case against Rahul and Dean. She said Rahul's trip was completely controlled by the special protection group (SPG). "We won't accept the baseless allegations of security lapses and we are sure that we provided foolproof security to Rahul," she said. The state special branch also ruled out reports that the SPG had sought an explanation from the state police on the lapses of security during Rahul's trip.

Rahul had stepped out of the car when the vehicle was stopped to fill fuel at a diesel pump near Mankombu. Senior police officials said there was no security lapse as security personnel in plainclothes had created a circle around Rahul when he had stepped out of the car.