New Delhi: The Congress party has set a target of winning 100 out of 140 seats in the Kerala assembly elections. It faces a direct challenge from the ruling LDF alliance, which comprises the Left parties. The party has decided to focus on women and youth this time. The elections are likely to be held in April or May.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is hopeful of success this time, aiming to end the LDF’s 10-year rule. In this regard, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a strategy meeting on Friday. Issues discussed included seat-sharing among UDF constituents, election campaigning, and the impact of the rapid and thorough revision of the electoral rolls. The party meeting also expressed concern that the BJP might use the alliance with the Left parties in West Bengal to target the UDF in Kerala. Rahul Gandhi had participated in a UDF program in Ernakulam on January 19, which was held to celebrate the opposition’s recent victory in the local body elections. These elections were seen as a semi-final before the assembly elections. In the local body elections held in December 2025, the UDF had won four municipal corporations and more than 500 panchayats in Kerala.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Kerala in-charge PV Mohan said, “Yes, there is concern among some sections of the state unit that the BJP might use the alliance with the Left parties in West Bengal to target the UDF in Kerala. The high command will take the final decision regarding the West Bengal issue. But in Kerala, the UDF is united and will defeat the LDF in the upcoming assembly elections.” He said, “Our main focus will be on creating employment for the youth and addressing issues related to women. The LDF has neglected the state’s development for the past 10 years, and we need to present our roadmap to the public. The UDF’s election campaign will be aggressive, but based on a positive agenda.” It is also worth noting that the strategy meeting took place on the same day Prime Minister Modi visited Kerala and launched a scathing political attack on both the LDF and the UDF for neglecting Kerala over the past decades.
AICC functionary Mohan alleged that the CPI-M’s state unit and the BJP had helped each other to counter the UDF in the recent local body elections and would do the same in the upcoming assembly elections. He said, “The Congress is fighting against the divisive politics of both the CPI-M and the BJP. Recently, a Union Minister, an ally of the BJP, invited Chief Minister Vijayan to join the NDA. Now their alliance has been exposed. But the UDF enjoys public support in the state and will undoubtedly receive the people’s mandate in the upcoming assembly elections.”
Congress Lok Sabha MP Benny Behanan told ETV Bharat, “The corruption prevalent in the state government for the past decade has angered the voters, who are eager for a change of power in the upcoming elections. False propaganda is being spread against the UDF, but the public is wise and will recognize the truth. The Prime Minister’s speech made it clear that the BJP’s agenda in Kerala is nothing but communalism. The UDF will go to any length to defeat communal forces.”
However, Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram was absent from this party meeting. He has been in the news before for his absence from party meetings. His absence from Friday’s meeting sparked another controversy. According to reports, Tharoor was upset because Rahul Gandhi had not given him due respect at an event held in Ernakulam on January 19 to celebrate the victory of UDF candidates in the local body elections. Sources close to the MP said that Tharoor had already informed the party that he would not be able to attend the January 23 meeting as he had to participate in an event related to his latest book, ‘Sri Narayana Guru,’ as part of the Kerala Literature Festival. Party insiders said that Tharoor’s absence was not an issue, as he had recently participated in a two-day strategy session of senior state leaders in Wayanad to discuss the strategy for the upcoming elections and had offered valuable suggestions.
AICC in-charge of Kerala, Deepa Dasmunshi, said there was no problem. She said that Tharoor was very happy with the party and had informed them that he would not be able to attend the meeting.
Immediately after the party meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote in a post on social media platform X, “The 3.6 crore people of Kerala yearn for change. The Congress party, along with its UDF allies, is determined to ensure progressive, development-oriented, and welfare-driven governance in the state.”
He further stated, “A crucial preparatory meeting was held with Kerala Congress leaders for the upcoming assembly elections.” Sharing details in this regard, Congress General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal wrote in a social media post, “Attended a meeting of our family of senior Kerala leaders, chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, where election preparations were discussed.”
The senior Congress leader said that buoyed by the recent victory in the local body elections, the UDF is fully prepared to achieve a historic success in the upcoming assembly elections. Later, speaking to reporters, Venugopal said, “We had a very fruitful meeting in Kerala today. Election preparations were discussed. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi listened carefully to the views of the Kerala leaders.” The senior Congress leader added, “We are fighting the elections unitedly. We are fully confident that we will win more than 100 seats in this election.”
