UDF in Turmoil as Seat Disputes and Mass Resignations Rock Local Body Election Preparations

Thiruvananthapuram: With just three days left to file nomination papers for the local body elections, the UDF is in disarray amid a series of internal explosions. In many places, candidates have still not been finalized. Resignations by party workers continue, with allegations that seats were sold for money and that favourites were imposed as candidates. In addition, tensions between constituent parties have intensified.

In Thiruvananthapuram, DCC president N. Shakthan submitted his resignation over internal issues in the party. However, KPCC president Sunny Joseph persuaded him to withdraw his resignation by offering him a legislative assembly seat.

In Palakkad, Mahila Congress district general secretary Preeja Suresh publicly accused the DCC of selling seats for money. In protest against the candidate announcement, 50 people—including DCC members, block and mandalam office-bearers of the Congress, and Youth Congress workers—resigned. The resignations were linked to issues surrounding the candidate selection for the Kunnathurmed North ward of the municipality. Youth Congress workers also came out against V. T. Balram, accusing him of unnecessary interference in candidate selection.

In Ernakulam, DCC leader Benny Behanan walked out of a meeting convened by the DCC leadership, alleging that Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan and DCC President Mohammed Shiyas were fielding only their preferred candidates.

In Thrissur, around 20 workers from the Mattathur panchayat staged a protest at the DCC office last night after being excluded from the candidate list. In Chalakudy municipality, a seat initially allotted to the Muslim League was later given to the Congress. Even after the League had announced its candidate and begun campaigning, the Congress fielded its own candidate in Aryankal.

In Pathanamthitta, the entire ward committee of Ward 36 of the Thiruvalla municipality resigned under the leadership of Thiruvalla Congress Block Secretary Thomas Koshi. In Perumbavoor, Mahila Congress mandalam secretary Sulekha Kamal, who was denied a seat, resigned and joined the SDPI. In Malappuram, Muslim League leader and Independent Fishermen’s Union district vice president Bakkar Paravanna resigned in protest against the League’s ties with the Jamaath and announced that he would cooperate with the CPI(M).