Congress, CPM spar over Left's potential hat-trick bid before 2026 Kerala polls

Kerala’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections remains sharply divided, with Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (UDF) presenting competing narratives over governance, development and anti-incumbency factors.

NATIONAL ALLIES, STATE RIVALS: CONGRESS AND LEFT IN KERALA

Speaking at the India Today Conclave South 2025, Ramesh Chennithala, senior Congress MLA, said that while Congress and the Left are allies at the national level under the INDIA bloc, in Kerala they remain political opponents.

“Nationally, we have a common enemy in the BJP and we have to fight that enemy with collective will. But in Kerala, the main fight is between Congress and the CPI(M), the UDF and the LDF,” he said.

CHIEF MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE TO BE DECIDED POST-ELECTION

Regarding leadership, Chennithala reaffirmed that Congress will not announce a Chief Ministerial face before the elections, stating that the decision will ultimately rest with elected legislators and the high command. “We have many capable leaders in our state, but the ultimate answer lies with the elected MLAs and the high command,” he said. Both leaders emphasised the continued political rivalry between Congress and the Left in Kerala, while agreeing on the necessity of national unity against the BJP and for the protection of the constitution and secularism.

CONGRESS SAYS SHASHI THAROOR REMAINS A PARTY PILLAR

On internal party dynamics, Chennithala highlighted Congress stalwart Shashi Tharoor’s continued commitment to the party. “Mr Shashi Tharoor is a Congressman. He will remain a Congress Member of Parliament. He has his views, we appreciate them, but he will remain with us. We have given him opportunities, made him a Minister, and he is an asset to the party. There is no doubt about it,” Chennithala said, signalling unity and loyalty within the party ranks ahead of the elections.

CONGRESS CLAIMS COVID-19, ANTI-INCUMBENCY SHAPED LAST POLL RESULTS

Chennithala attributed the Congress defeat in the last state elections largely to the Covid-19 pandemic, which prevented the party from reaching out to voters. “People of Kerala thought there is a government that is helping them. We could not go to the people and explain all these things because there were restrictions. Covid-19 was the main reason,” he said.

He added that anti-incumbency factors against the LDF, which has been in power for ten years, would now favour Congress, alongside a new development-focused agenda for employment and state growth.

LDF CREDITS GOVERNANCE, DISASTER MANAGEMENT FOR 2021 WIN

Kerala Local Self-Governments and Excise Minister MB Rajesh, countered that the LDF’s victory in 2021 was not only due to Covid-19 management but also the government’s handling of repeated floods, cyclones and other calamities, demonstrating its efficiency.

“The electorate rewarded the government for its governance skills,” he said, highlighting that all 24 corruption cases filed against the LDF government in the High Court were dismissed. Rajesh added that Kerala continues to outperform many regions globally in indicators such as infant mortality and plans to eradicate extreme poverty by November 2025. He also cited the state’s per capita income growth, ranking in ease of doing business, and industrial and investment climate as reasons for confidence in another electoral victory.

CONGRESS ACCUSES BJP OF VOTE SABOTAGE

Chennithala accused the BJP of undermining Congress in Kerala, claiming that the party deliberately reduced Congress votes in the last parliamentary elections. He maintained that BJP’s growth in the state is limited and that it cannot form a government. “Four per cent of votes went to the CPI(M). The BJP does not want to see a Congress government in Kerala,” he said, warning that the party had benefited temporarily from Congress’s inability to counter it ideologically and politically.

ACKNOWLEDGING KERALA MODEL ACHIEVEMENTS

Both leaders acknowledged the historic achievements of state’s so-called Kerala model in health, education and social welfare, though Chennithala emphasised that these achievements predate any single government. “The Kerala model is not only the achievement of any particular political party. All political parties, whether in government or not, are responsible for the development of Kerala,” he said. Rajesh added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Left Democratic Front has significantly improved the state’s economic landscape, expanding the gross domestic product from 4.7 lakh crore rupees in 2016 to 11.5 lakh crore rupees and creating a modern, investment-friendly Kerala.

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