Congress to highlight Sabarimala, corruption charges; UDF confident of sweeping mandate in Kerala, says KPCC chief Sunny Joseph

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and Peravur MLA Sunny Joseph said the United Democratic Front (UDF) will make the Sabarimala gold theft case and alleged irregularities linked to Global Ayyappa Sangamam central election issues in the upcoming Assembly election. He accused the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) of shielding the accused and eroding trust in governance.

In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Joseph alleged that despite a court-monitored investigation into the Sabarimala theft, the accused secured bail without even an interim chargesheet being filed. “This is not just a theft; it involves temple property and public faith. The Supreme Court has observed that even gods are unsafe in Kerala,” he said, adding that the Congress would mobilise public opinion and organise protests on the issue. He further alleged financial irregularities in the government-backed Global Ayyappa Sangamam event and said such controversies, coupled with what he termed as selective targeting of Congress leaders, would be highlighted before voters.

Rejecting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s charge that the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi were acting as a “B-team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr. Joseph said the public would not believe the allegation. “It is the Congress under Rahul Gandhi that is leading the fight against the BJP nationally. The BJP’s action against Rahul Gandhi and other leaders shows who their real opponent is,” he said, alleging that the CPI(M) has a tacit understanding with the BJP, citing political development in places such as Palakkad.

The KPCC chief said the UDF’s decision to support leaders who defected from the CPI(M), including G. Sudhakaran, Aisha Potty, T.K. Govindan and V. Kunhikrishnan, would strengthen the coalition. “These are mass leaders with strong grassroots support. Their entry reflects growing dissent within the CPI(M) against its functioning,” he said.

Dismissing concerns of internal dissent within the Congress over granting electoral berth to former CPI(M) leaders, Mr. Joseph said minor issues at the local level would be resolved through dialogue. “The party is united and committed to ensuring their victory,” he added. He also said that the uncertainty surrounding senior Congress leader K. Sudhakaran had been resolved, with the latter actively campaigning and supporting candidates across constituencies.

Mr. Joseph highlighted his development track record over the past 15 years in Peravur, stating that administrative restructuring and infrastructure expansion were among his key achievements. He is taking on the Left Democratic Front’s K.K. Shailaja in the constituency. He said the formation of Iritty taluk was a landmark intervention. “Earlier, the region was part of Thalassery taluk with 48 villages and nearly 10 lakh population, creating severe administrative strain. As chairman of the Taluk Formation Commission, I raised the disparity in the Assembly and helped facilitate the creation of new taluks after consultation with MLAs,” he said, crediting support from the former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

He pointed to the renovation of the Thalassery-Mysore road under the Kerala State Transport project and reconstruction of 17 bridges between Thalassery and Kootupuzha. The development of the Hill Highway and the upgradation of schools to higher secondary level improved access to education, he said.

Mr. Joseph also flagged the incomplete memorial project for volleyball legend Jimmy George, stating that despite budgetary announcement and initiation of work during the UDF tenure, the project stalled under the LDF government. He said several panchayats, including Azhankunnu, Aralam, Kottiyoor and Kelakam, were severely affected in the 2018 Kerala floods, and the UDF had ensured compensation, road restoration and rehabilitation measures. Under the Rebuild Kerala initiative, a 25-km road through Azhankunnu was developed to improve connectivity and disaster resilience, he said.

Mr. Joseph also claimed credit for the elevation of Iritty to a municipality, strengthening of health infrastructure and establishment of an 11-KV substation in Kelakam, facilitated by land donation from a local trust. He said the bifurcation of the Iritty police station and creation of the Muzhankunnu police station helped address law and order challenges in a large jurisdiction, he said.

Mr. Joseph described human-wildlife conflict as one of the most pressing issues in forest fringe areas like Aralam and Kelakam. He said he had raised the matter multiple times in the Assembly and moved adjournment motions, but discussions were not permitted. “Despite repeated interventions, including adjournment motions in the Assembly, the issue was not discussed seriously. Funds allocated are insufficient and even Central assistance remains un-utilised, underutilised,” he alleged.

He said the ₹13 crore allocated in 2013 helped construct elephant walls, but subsequent efforts were inadequate. He pointed out that the cost of the Aralam elephant wall project had escalated from ₹20 crore to more than ₹50 crore without completion, leaving tribal communities vulnerable. He added that the State had failed to effectively pursue amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act or escalate the issue with the Centre. “If the government was serious, it could have approached the court to take it up strongly with the Prime Minister,” he said.

Expressing confidence in the UDF’s prospects, Mr. Joseph said the coalition’s improved performance in local body elections indicated strong anti-incumbency sentiment. The UDF has expanded its presence in Corporations and local bodies. From being in power in one Corporation, the UDF now governs four Corporations, he said, adding that there is visible enthusiasm among workers and a clear mood for change.

On the possibility of the Kerala Congress (M) returning to the UDF fold, he said the decision rested with the party leadership, but noted that the KC(M) had suffered electoral setback in districts like Kottayam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta. “The people of Kerala will assess governance failure, corruption allegation, and development stagnation. We are confident they will deliver a decisive mandate in favour of the UDF,” he added.

Published – March 23, 2026 09:20 pm IST