Kerala Assembly elections: Congress reiterates LDF-NDA ‘secret deal’ claims

The Congress has reiterated its allegations of a “secret deal” between the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.

Addressing the media in Kozhikode on Wednesday (March 25, 2026), senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, said there was an “unwritten political understanding” between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “keep the Congress away from power” in Kerala.

Mr. Chennithala alleged that the tie-up had begun during the 2021 polls. “The aim is to isolate the UDF and realise the dream of a Congress-free India,” he said.

Claiming that in 2021, votes of the NDA were transferred to the CPI(M) in 69 seats, Mr. Chennithala said: “The UDF had received 40% of the votes then. The vote share of the NDA, which was 14% in the previous Parliament election, dipped to 10%. Because of the vote transfer, the LDF managed to get 44% votes and retained power. A similar political situation is being repeated now.”

Citing “an example”, Mr. Chennithala pointed out that Twenty20, an NDA constituent and a corporate-backed political party confined to the Kunnathunad area in Ernakulam district, has been given 22 seats now. “Twenty20’s candidates have been fielded in major constituencies where senior CPI(M) candidates are facing electoral challenges. In some other places, another NDA constituent, the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), is contesting. Most of their candidates are relatively unknown or are unfamiliar,” he said.

Mr. Chennithala also alleged that the SNC-Lavalin corruption case, in which Mr. Vijayan was the seventh accused, was deferred 41 times “because of the secret deal.”

“Congress leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were questioned for several hours and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was jailed for corruption charges. However, not even a notice was served on Mr. Vijayan. Have you ever heard of Mr. Vijayan criticising Mr. Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah inside or outside the Assembly?”, he asked.

The Congress leader also claimed that the CPI(M) was trying to “pamper majority communalism” after its attempts to lure minority votes during the Lok Sabha polls “failed miserably.”

Mr. Chennithala criticised Mr. Vijayan for “using derogatory words to abuse people like former Minister G. Sudhakaran.”

“The Chief Minister’s words are enough for our victory in the elections,” he added.