The dramatic incident prompted the state’s ruling CPI(M) to once again raise its refrain — “Today’s Congress is tomorrow’s BJP”.
To keep the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front from power at a village panchayat in Kerala, the Congress members of the panchayat quit the party and joined hands with the BJP. They then elected a Congress rebel, who had contested as an Independent, as president of Mattathur panchayat in Thrissur. Another Congress rebel, who also contested as an Independent, was the Left’s candidate.
Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said in a post on X, “What happened at Mattathur panchayat in Kerala yesterday reveals a vicious trend; Congress members joining hands with BJP to seize power. This politics of turncoats directly strengthens the Sangh Parivar’s project by normalising defections and eroding democratic mandates. Such conduct, seen earlier in Arunachal, Goa and Puducherry, fuels BJP’s ambitions in Kerala. Congress leadership must respond clearly to this dangerous drift,” he said.
Elections to the posts of panchayat president and vice president, which determine which party rules a panchayat governing body, were held on Friday across Kerala. In the 24-strong Mattathur panchayat, the LDF had most seats, with 10. The Congress had eight members, while the BJP only had four. Two Congress rebels, who had contested as Independents, had also won.
Minutes before the elections, the Congress members resigned from the party and backed the party rebel, who was fielded by the BJP. One of the Congress members, who quit the party, was elected as vice-president with BJP support.
Congress district committee president Joseph Tajet on Sunday said the eight Congress elected members and two rebels were suspended from the primary membership of the party on charges of defection. He said the party had issued a Whip to the members, who had joined hands with the BJP. He said the party would move the Election Commission against the members, pointing out they had violated the anti-defection law.
A senior BJP leader from Thrissur, B Gopalakrishan, said the CPI(M) was attempting horse trading by fielding a Congress rebel as presidential candidate. On the Congress members who quit, he said they had approached the BJP for support. “We put forward the demand that the Congress members should quit the party. When they quit the Congress, we embraced them,” he said.
Panchayat president Tessy Joseph, who had quit the Congress, told the media on Sunday, “BJP members might have voted for us because of their opposition towards CPI(M). The Left wanted to retain power at the panchayat to cover up the corruption of their previous regime. Our attempt was to counter it and the BJP eventually supported it.”
Curated by Shiv Shakti Mishra
