Thrissur, March 15 – Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala stated on Sunday that the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front is fully prepared to face the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, expressing confidence that a change in government in Kerala is inevitable.
The Election Commission will announce the date for the 140-member Kerala Assembly on Sunday evening.
Speaking to reporters in Guruvayur, Chennithala said that the Congress-led alliance is united and ready for the elections, while also claiming that the ruling CPI(M) is facing an unprecedented internal crisis.
“The UDF is fully prepared for the Assembly elections. We expected the notification to come earlier, and the delay in announcing the schedule has slightly delayed the candidate selection process,” he said.
Regarding speculation about Members of Parliament contesting the Assembly polls, Chennithala clarified that the decision would not be taken at the state level.
“Whether MPs should contest or not will not be decided in Kerala. That decision will be taken by the party high command,” he said.
Referring to the possible candidature of former CPI(M) Minister G. Sudhakaran, he said that the UDF will soon decide after consultations with its constituent parties.
Chennithala said that the UDF had neither complacency nor overconfidence going into the elections, but maintained that the public mood clearly favoured a change of government.
He alleged that several decisions taken by the cabinet of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in its final meetings were aimed only at misleading voters ahead of the polls.
“Many of these decisions were not taken in the last ten years but are now being announced in the final cabinet meetings. They know very well that these will not have to be implemented as the government is on its way out,” he said, accusing the government of attempting to influence voters through last-minute announcements and extensive advertisements.
He also alleged that the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated sharply.
According to him, criminal gangs and anti-social elements were operating freely due to what he described as the failure of the police administration.
Chennithala further claimed that the CPI(M) in Kerala was facing a major organizational setback, with several leaders leaving the party and openly taking positions against it.
Despite multiple aspirants for party tickets, he said that the Congress would decide candidates through its central election committee and that once nominees were announced, leaders and workers across the alliance would unite to ensure their victory.