Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and Peravur MLA Sunny Joseph said that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will claim the Sabarimala gold theft case and the alleged irregularities related to Ayyappa Sangamam global election issues in the upcoming Assembly elections. He accused the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) of patronizing the accused and undermining trust in governance.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Joseph claimed that despite a court-monitored investigation into the Sabarimala theft, the accused were granted bail without an interim charge sheet being filed. “This is not just theft; it involves temple property and public faith. The Supreme Court has found that even gods are not safe in Kerala,” he said, adding that the Congress would mobilize public opinion and organize protests against the issue. He further alleged financial irregularities at the government-sponsored Global Ayyappa Sangamam and said such controversies, coupled with what he called selective targeting of Congress leaders, would be highlighted before voters.
Rejecting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s allegation that the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi were acting as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “B-team”, Mr Joseph said the public would not believe the allegation. “It is the Congress under Rahul Gandhi who is leading the fight against the BJP at the national level. The BJP’s action against Rahul Gandhi and other leaders shows who their real adversary is,” he said, alleging that the CPI(M) has a tacit understanding with the BJP, citing political developments in places like Palakkad.
The KPCC chief said the UDF’s decision to support leaders who had defected from the CPI(M), including G. Sudhakaran, Aisha Potty, TK Govindan and V. Kunhikrishnan, would strengthen the coalition. “They are mass leaders with strong popular support. Their entry reflects the growing dissent within the CPI(M) against its functioning,” he said.
Dismissing apprehensions of internal dissent in the Congress over giving electoral seat to former CPI(M) leaders, Mr. Joseph said minor issues at the local level would be resolved through dialogue. “The party is united and determined to ensure its victory,” he added. He also said that the uncertainty surrounding senior Congress leader K. Sudhakaran has been resolved, with the latter actively campaigning and supporting candidates across constituencies.
Highlighting his development track record over the past 15 years in Peravur, Mr. Joseph said administrative restructuring and infrastructure expansion were among his key achievements. In the constituency, KK Shailaja of the Left Democratic Front is taking over. He said the creation of Iritta taluk was a landmark intervention. “Earlier, the region was a part of Thalassery taluk with 48 villages and nearly 10 lakh population, which created a serious administrative burden. As chairman of the Taluk Formation Committee, I highlighted the differences in the assembly and after consultation with MLAs helped facilitate the formation of new taluks,” he said, crediting support from former chief minister Oommen Chandy.
He pointed out the renovation of the Thalassery-Mysore road under the Kerala State Transport project and the reconstruction of 17 bridges between Thalassery and Kootupuzha. The development of the Hill Highway and the upgrading of schools to the upper secondary level have improved access to education, he said.
Mr. Joseph also flagged the unfinished memorial project for volleyball legend Jimmy George and said that despite the budget announcement and commencement of work during the UDF tenure, the project stalled under the LDF government. He said that several panchayats including Azhankunnu, Aralam, Kottiyoor and Kelakam were severely affected by the 2018 Kerala floods and the UDF had ensured compensation, road rehabilitation and rehabilitation measures. Under the Rebuild Kerala initiative, a 25-km road has been developed through Azhankunnu to improve connectivity and disaster resilience, he said.
Mr. Joseph also took credit for upgrading Iritta to a municipality, strengthening health infrastructure and setting up an 11-KV substation at Kelakam through a land donation from a local trust. He said the bifurcation of Iritty Police Station and creation of Muzhankunnu Police Station has helped to address law and order problems in the large jurisdiction.
Mr. Joseph described human-wildlife conflict as one of the most pressing problems in the marginal forest areas like Aralam and Kelakam. He said he had raised the matter several times in the assembly and moved motions for adjournment, but discussions were not allowed. “Despite repeated interventions, including adjournment motions in the Assembly, the matter has not been seriously discussed. The funds allocated are insufficient and even the central assistance remains underutilized, insufficiently,” he said.
He said ₹13 crore allocated in 2013 helped build the elephant walls, but subsequent efforts were inadequate. He pointed out that the cost of the elephant wall project in Aralam has increased from ₹20 crore to over ₹50 crore without completion, leaving the tribal communities vulnerable. He added that the state failed to effectively push for changes in the Wildlife Protection Act or escalate the issue with the Centre. “If the government was serious about this, it could have approached the court to take it up with the Prime Minister vigorously,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the UDF’s prospects, Mr Joseph said the coalition’s improved performance in local body elections indicated strong anti-incumbency sentiment. The UDF has expanded its presence in corporations and local bodies. From being in power in one corporation, the UDF is now running four corporations, he said, adding that there is enthusiasm and a clear mood for change among the employees.
On the possibility of the Kerala Congress (M) returning to the UDF fold, he said the decision depended on the party leadership, but noted that the KC (M) had suffered electoral setbacks in districts like Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta. “The people of Kerala will judge the failure of governance, allegations of corruption and stagnant development. We are confident that they will provide a decisive mandate in favor of the UDF,” he added.
Published – 23 March 2026 21:20 IST
