Friction intensifies in UDF in Kollam over entry of former DYFI leaders into RSP

The induction of former Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leaders into the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has triggered an intense political rift within the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kollam. The friction centres around the RSP leadership’s decision to grant membership to some DYFI leaders, a move that has deeply upset the Congress and Youth Congress.

The Congress leadership argues that accepting defectors from the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s [CPI(M)] youth wing without collective alliance approval compromises the political integrity of the UDF.

The controversy erupted into the public domain following a scathing social media post by Youth Congress State vice-president Vishnu Sunil Pandalam. He strongly criticised the move, stating that providing political asylum to individuals with track records of CPI(M) violence amounts to a betrayal of the Congress and Youth Congress workers who stood firmly by the alliance during challenging times. Asserting that the RSP should not reduce itself to a dumping ground for individuals discarded by the CPI(M), the youth leader further alleged that a DYFI area joint secretary welcomed into the RSP possesses a notorious criminal background and is officially included on local rowdy lists.

Amplifying the dissent, District Congress Committee (DCC) president P. Rajendraprasad later issued a stern reminder that every constituent party bears an absolute responsibility to maintain the smooth functioning of the UDF coalition. While acknowledging that every political outfit possesses the autonomous right to decide its membership, he emphasised that such decisions must not disregard the immense persecution and hardships endured by opposition youth organisations in Kerala over the past decade.  

Specific reference was made to the alleged brutal attacks on February 23, 2023, and the December 2023 Navakerala Sadas protests in Kollam, where frontline Youth Congress leaders were allegedly assaulted by DYFI cadres . The Congress leaders questioned the ethical viability of asking their workers to now campaign alongside the very individuals responsible for that violence. 

As the RSP stands firm on its organisational autonomy to recruit members, senior Congress leaders have escalated the matter, formally approaching the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee leadership and senior front managers to demand an immediate high-level intervention to resolve the crisis.