Factionalism and poor candidate selection were the key factors behind the Congress party’s poor performance in the 2020 three-tier local body elections, senior leader and former president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Mullappally Ramachandran has said. In an interview to The Hindu recently, he maintained that empowering local bodies and prioritising development would define the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) strategy in the upcoming polls.
“In 2020, many candidates were selected by faction leaders, often without local consultation,” he said. “Being at the helm of the party and in the midst of the elections, I could not air my views or enforce my decisions. It was extremely embarrassing,” he recalled. Emphasising the lessons learned, he added that candidate selection should not be left to the whims of individual leaders.
While anti-incumbency sentiment remains significant, development-related concerns would also shape voter preferences, he said. “Non-performance, rampant corruption, financial mismanagement and arrogance of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders at all levels will play a critical role,” he claimed.
Alleging failure on the part of several local bodies to provide basic services, he said the State government had even denied stipulated funds. He pointed out that Congress’s vision of strengthening local governance was based on decentralisation and adequate government support as referred to in the Panchayat and Nagarapalika Act brought by the Congress-led Union government in 1993.
Referring to ‘differences’ in his party, Mr. Ramachandran said disagreements among leaders would dampen the spirit of grassroots-level workers, a fact the leaders should be mindful of. On discussions related to the selection of the party’s next Chief Ministerial candidate, he said it would be done following the long-established practice in Congress at the right time.
On political ambitions
“Power has never been a lure for me. And, age is only a state of mind. Ever since I entered the electoral fray, my party has graciously given me the opportunity to fight successive elections. What matters is whether one can deliver with a healthy mind and body,” he said about his own political ambitions. He also credited Congress’s longstanding principle of balancing experience with youth, a practice followed since Jawaharlal Nehru’s time.
Responding to questions related to the Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) influence in north Kerala, he described the party as a “trustworthy partner.” Cordial relations would remain uninterrupted, he said, downplaying rumours that the IUML was gaining an upper hand in the coalition.
Voter apathy among youth
Expressing concern over young voters’ apathy, he said, “They forget that politics ultimately shapes governance and the country’s destiny”. He explained that his personal initiatives during the tenure as KPCC chief encouraged greater youth participation. On women’s representation, he cited as example ‘My booth, My pride’ that appointed 25,000 women as booth vice-presidents.
Mr. Ramachandran said it is frightening to note that communal and religious politics is back. “In an enlightened State like Kerala, this pernicious trend must be checked,” he said, adding that the Congress consistently worked to safeguard the interests of all communities.
Published – December 01, 2025 09:46 am IST
