AICC issues ultimatum to KPCC to end factionalism and begin local body campaign

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has reportedly issued an ultimatum to the Congress leadership in Kerala to end factional polarities, present a united front, and convey a sense of political purpose in the crucial election year. 

The AICC on Tuesday summoned the State leadership to Delhi for marathon closed-door discussions and one-to-ones with the national leadership comprising AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC general secretary, organisation, K.C. Venugopal. 

The summit assumed organisational significance amid public expressions of dissent over the Youth Congress and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) reorganisations, with some influential social organisations wading into the intra-party discord, worryingly for the party.

Former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran, MP, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the conclave, hinted that the alleged oneupmanship of leaders vying to secure their loyalists in crucial organisational positions and possibly on the party ticket was a central talking point at the summit. 

Mr. Sudhakaran claimed that he, among other leaders, made no bones about the self-defeating and personality cult informed schisms in the party’s leadership. “We are in deep water if we do not broadcast unity in the crucial election year,” he said. 

Later, Mr. Kharge told reporters that Mr. Sudhakaran had raised “some issues which I do not want to dwell on publicly.” 

Shut out of power for two consecutive terms, the local body polls and the Assembly elections in 2026 are pivotal for the political survival of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition. 

A Congress insider said Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and KPCC president Sunny Joseph presented a road map for UDF victory.  It reportedly involved constituting booth committees in every local body ward, conducting cyclical knock-on-doors and turn-out-the-vote campaigns, and a rancour-free candidate selection process that factored caste, religious, and age demographics.

The road map also reportedly stressed the need to enrol new voters and to take a panoply of social organisations on board. 

The Congress’ local body campaign, reportedly scheduled to commence on November 1, will focus on bread-and-butter livelihood issues along with other State and national subjects.