Kochi: Allies of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala have voiced their concerns over the ongoing leadership controversies within the party, fearing it could impact their chances in the upcoming elections. The concerns were raised during a meeting in Kalamassery on Thursday, where the opposition front strategized for the local body elections later this year.
The recent turmoil within the Congress, particularly the controversy surrounding Shashi Tharoor’s comments praising the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) business-friendly policies, has unsettled its allies. Although no leader explicitly mentioned Tharoor’s name during the meeting, the sentiment was clear. His remarks were swiftly leveraged by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) as an endorsement of their governance, further deepening internal tensions within the Congress. Additionally, a recent interview in which Tharoor subtly criticized the party leadership added fuel to the fire.
The allies emphasized that while the Congress faced pro-government sentiment in the previous assembly elections due to welfare measures during the pandemic, the current political climate reflects growing dissatisfaction with the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government. They cautioned that internal discord within the Congress could weaken UDF’s prospects despite the prevailing anti-incumbency wave.
Congress leaders responded to the concerns, assuring their allies that the reported internal conflicts would not affect the party’s electoral prospects. However, UDF convenor and senior Congress leader M M Hassan later clarified to the media that the party’s internal issues were not formally discussed at the meeting.
During the session, the UDF resolved to take a firm stance against both the state and central governments. The opposition front decided to protest independently against the central government’s offshore mining policy and accused the LDF government of supporting the move. The UDF also announced a series of statewide protests, including a hunger strike in front of the Secretariat on March 5 against rising crimes and drug abuse, a demonstration in Kochi on March 13 over cuts in SC/ST funds and minority scholarships, and a large-scale protest on April 4 in front of all local bodies.
Additionally, on April 10, UDF workers in hilly areas will march to forest offices, demanding relaxation in the Wildlife (Protection) Act. A coastal protest, led by Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, will be conducted from April 21 to 30, covering the stretch from Nellikunnu in Kasaragod to Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram. These initiatives mark the UDF’s efforts to consolidate its position ahead of the 2026 elections while tackling internal rifts within the Congress.
