Satheesan to present blueprint for Congress poll campaign at party camp on Monday

The Congress is looking for nothing less than a remarkable return to power in Kerala by bagging at least 100 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls, an action plan for which is expected to be presented at the party’s ongoing State-level leadership camp titled ‘Lakshya 2026’ here on Monday.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan will present the plan, conceived with the help of poll strategist Sunil Kanagolu and his team. They had reportedly undertaken a survey of all the Assembly constituencies to choose winnable candidates. Mr. Kanagolu and some of his team members are also attending the camp, where key campaign issues for the Assembly polls and the criteria for candidate selection are being discussed. It is learnt that the plan is to declare the candidates in two phases. The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) has already set up a four-member candidate screening committee led by Madhusudan Mistry for Kerala.

Over 150 leaders, including functionaries of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, district Congress committees, and affiliate organisations, and members of the core committee and political affairs committee are attending the camp. On Sunday afternoon, the delegates were split into south, central and north zones and discussions were held. P.C. Vishnunadh, A.P. Anil Kumar, and Shafi Parambil, respectively, led the debates. The inputs from the discussions will be included in the action plan to be presented by Mr. Satheesan.

Winnability factor

Opening the camp being held at a private resort in the morning, AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal dropped enough hints about the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) plan of action. Asking the party leaders to refrain from declaring themselves as candidates, he said that “winnability” was going to be the main criterion for getting party ticket for the election. Mr. Venugopal said it was quite natural for them to have ambitions and grievances. However, airing opinions in public could give a “political weapon” to the UDF’s rivals. “We will ensure that all sections of society, including the youth and women, get a fair representation on the candidates’ list. We have a guideline for the selection process. Please wait for the time being,” he said. This is seen as a direct message to a crop of senior leaders who have already thrown their hat into the electoral ring.

Mr. Venugopal also took potshots at the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, who, he claimed, were taken aback by the UDF’s stupendous victory in the local body polls. To overcome their embarrassment, both these fronts and those who support them were coming up with all kinds of theories about a revolt within the Congress. “Stories are being spread through the media about how the UDF has many chief ministerial aspirants, whether incumbent MPs will contest the Assembly polls etc. Another question being asked is whether the UDF has a strong leader like Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. I dare to say that we have at least 10 leaders who are stronger than Mr. Vijayan,” Mr. Venugopal said.

While delivering the presidential address, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said that the UDF had crossed the halfway mark in the race to capture power in the State by making it big in the local body polls. The party workers need to work hard to continue this winning streak in the Assembly election, he added. The camp will conclude on Monday afternoon.