V.D. Satheesan is confident that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will storm back to power in Kerala after 10 years riding on the Congress’s organisational preparedness and a groundswell of support. In an interview to The Hindu, he reiterated that he would quit politics if the UDF does not win the Kerala polls. Excerpts.
After being in the opposition for 10 years, it is a do-or-die situation for the Congress in Kerala. How prepared is the party?
It was a difficult situation for us as we lost twice in a row. As the party leaders and workers were demoralised, the first duty was to boost their morale. Generally, those in the Opposition often lose by-elections. However, in Kerala, we have been winning those by huge margins. We posted impressive victories in the parliamentary election and the civic polls.
We began the preparations for mission 2026 one year ago. We succeeded in bringing 90% of the social groups that had left the United Democratic Front (UDF). Now, the UDF is not just a confederation of political parties, but a broader political platform with political parties, opinion-makers, social groups, and even Left fellow-travellers on board.
Earlier, there were several groups in the party fighting each other. Now, it is all over, and no group has any dominance over the party. We have a collective leadership where we discuss issues, make decisions and implement them. At the same time, the CPI(M) is faced with internal rebellion and a large number of leaders have left the party. The CPI(M) is disintegrating in Kerala as it happened in West Bengal and Tripura.
While submitting a charge sheet against the government, we have put forward alternative programmes and projects. We have come up with proposals to improve the health and education sectors after holding conclaves. We are approaching the people with specific plans and projects to address the issues faced by the State.
What is the ground situation? Is there a groundswell in favour of the UDF?
There is a huge anti-incumbency sentiment against the government. A major section of society is against the government. Many Left fellow-travellers now openly say that there should not be any continuity in the government as they fear that such a situation will destroy the party.
The lives of people have become miserable. Kerala is the number one State in terms of price rise, and there was no market intervention to arrest the price rise. This was the most inefficient government Kerala has ever seen.
What do you think are the three failures of the government?
First, it is the fiscal situation. Kerala is in a huge debt trap. The government mismanaged the financial situation. It has also failed in the health, education, agriculture and welfare sectors. Third, it is the gold pilferage in Sabarimala. Three senior leaders of the CPI(M) were arrested in the case. The office of the Chief Minister is putting pressure on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Kerala High Court. The SIT could not even file a preliminary charge sheet in the case.
All the accused are out on statutory bail and are busy removing the evidence. Though three of its senior leaders were arrested in the case, the CPI (M) has not taken any disciplinary action against them fearing that they may reveal the names and role of some Ministers or former Ministers in the case.
In the past 10 years, Congress could send fewer than 25 legislators to the Assembly. You need to at least double it to try to come back to power.
A: The party’s efforts to bring back the social groups to its fold will have an impact and bring good results. The return of the social groups, the anti-incumbency factor and the organisational preparations will help the party improve its performance. The LDF will lose many of its seats.
Even while the Congress is pinning its hopes on the anti-incumbency factor, the CPI(M) has fielded more than 50 of its sitting MLAs, which many feel is a reflection of its confidence in the work it has done.
The fielding of the sitting MLAs need not bring the desired results. The popularity of the MLAs need not translate into poll results. Popularity may work in some individual cases. But they may not survive the general trend.
It is being said that the BJP is preparing itself for the 2031 elections and hopes to eat into the vote base of the Congress. The BJP has also succeeded in winning over some Congress and Left leaders to its side.
The BJP had been unsuccessfully trying this since 2005. However, their vote share dropped in the recent civic polls. The BJP has entered into a deal with the CPI(M) to beat the Congress. There could be a triangular fight in five or six seats. It is a direct fight between the LDF and the UDF in the rest of the seats.
Even while being part of the INDIA bloc, the Congress and CPI(M) are fighting each other in Kerala. Recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were highly critical of each other.
It was the Chief Minister who started abusing Mr. Gandhi and he even went to the extent of calling Congress the ‘B’ team of the BJP. Mr. Gandhi is one person who has been fighting the BJP’s communalism. He is the symbol of the fight against communalism and fascism.
You have earlier stated that you would go to political exile if you could not bring Congress back to power.
Yes. If I cannot bring back the UDF to power, I will definitely quit politics. My responsibility is to bring the UDF back to power. If I fail, owning up to the responsibility, I will withdraw from politics and go into political exile.
