KPCC president Sunny Joseph says UDF convenor’s remarks on Kerala polling day ‘avoidable’

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph has said United Democratic Front (UDF) convenor Adoor Prakash’s “public support for actor Dileep (in actor rape case) on the polling day should ideally have been avoided”. He said Mr. Prakash’s statement on Tuesday had created “confusion”, prompting him to clarify the party’s position that the Congress firmly stands with the survivor.

Speaking to the media at the Kannur Press Club on Wednesday (December 10, 2025), Mr. Joseph said “the statement ought to have been corrected immediately, which is why discussions were held and it was subsequently withdrawn.”

Expressing doubts about a conspiracy behind the second rape complaint against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, Mr. Joseph said the complaint was “well-drafted” and reached him only after it was circulated to the media. He alleged there was a “legal brain” behind it and that “the intention was clear.”

On Sabarimala gold theft case

On the Sabarimala gold theft case, he questioned why the probe had not reached “former Devaswom Minister” despite former TDB president A. Padmakumar’s testimony, and why the missing gold was yet to be traced.

He alleged that the accused were “receiving political protection” and that the Chief Minister and the CPI(M) State secretary were maintaining silence “out of fear that those in jail might reveal names if displeased.” He alleged the accused would be “shielded at least until the elections were over.”

Mr. Joseph expressed confidence that the UDF would perform strongly in the southern districts in the local body elections. He also stressed that the polling in Kannur (on Thursday) “must be fair” and that the Chief Minister should intervene to ensure this.