Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Sajeendran, Sabu Jacob trade charges over Poothrikka ‘deal’

United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in Kunnathunadu Assembly constituency V.P. Sajeendran and Twenty20 State president Sabu M. Jacob locked horns on Tuesday over allegations of bribery linked to the resignation of Pooja Jomon, who stepped down both as member and president of Poothrikka panchayat.

On Monday, Mr. Jacob had alleged that Ms. Jomon was offered ₹5 lakh in cash and another ₹7 lakh to clear her debts in order to resign and strip Twenty20 of power in Poothrikka, a move he claimed was done with Mr. Sajeendran’s knowledge. However, Mr. Sajeendran challenged Mr. Jacob on Tuesday to produce evidence of the alleged “deal” struck between the UDF and Ms. Jomon.

Mr. Sajeendran said that if Ms. Jomon had indeed been taken for a clandestine discussion in his vehicle, as alleged, Mr. Jacob should release proof of it. He pointed out that several other Twenty20 members, including Raseena Pareeth, former president of the Vadavucode block panchayat, had left the party disillusioned with its entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), not because they had received offers. Many of them had since joined the UDF and other outfits, he said.

Later in the day, Mr. Jacob released video footage claiming it to be evidence of Ms. Jomon striking a ₹20-lakh “deal” with Congress leaders. He said the visuals showed Ms. Jomon finalising the agreement with Poothrikka Cooperative Bank president Aniben Kunnath and Poothrikka Congress mandalam president Peter Kuplasshery at a meeting allegedly convened at the cooperative bank.

According to Mr. Jacob, the initial agreement was for ₹15 lakh: ₹5 lakh in cash and a bank loan of ₹7 lakh along with interest. Once news of the deal leaked, an additional ₹5 lakh was demanded, raising the total to ₹20 lakh, which Congress leaders allegedly agreed to.

He further alleged that after discussions at the bank, the final agreement was sealed inside Mr. Sajeendran’s white SUV and later at the Central Election Committee office in Kolancherry on March 27. “This is direct evidence of the Congress attempting to sabotage the election through bribery,” Mr. Jacob said. On Monday, he had released an audio clip purportedly revealing the offer to Ms. Jomon. He added that he was compelled to release the video footage after Mr. Sajeendran denied the charge.

“The Congress, alarmed by the NDA’s advance in Kunnathunadu, is resorting to pumping in money to subvert the election,” Mr. Jacob alleged.