Rahul Gandhi to inaugurate ‘Maha Panchayat’ in Kochi on Jan. 19

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will inaugurate the ‘Maha Panchayat’ programme organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at Marine Drive here on January 19 to felicitate party candidates who had won the recent local body polls.

Around 14,000 party representatives, including 7,848 who had won the local body elections, will attend, said Mohammed Shiyas, president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee, on Saturday (January 17, 2026). Senior party leaders and office-bearers will also attend the event scheduled at 2 p.m. The programme will mark the start of the party’s campaign ahead of the forthcoming Assembly polls, he said.

Mr. Gandhi will present the Priyadarshini literary award instituted by Priyadarshini Publications under the KPCC to critic M. Leelvathi during his visit to the city on Monday(January 19, 2026). The function will be held at Ms. Leelvathi’s residence at Thrikkakara. KPCC president Sunny Joseph and Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan will attend.