Defeated United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates in the Mattathur grama panchayat elections have alleged that former District Congress Committee (DCC) secretary TM Chandran deliberately misled voters by spreading confusion around the party symbol, resulting in their defeat and denying the UDF a clear majority in the panchayat.
At a press conference held at the Thrissur Press Club on Wednesday, they said voters were falsely told that the Congress symbol was an umbrella and not a hand and that candidates contesting under the umbrella symbol were official Congress candidates.
“We contested on the hand symbol and sought votes as Congress candidates. But a systematic attempt was made to portray us as rebels while those contesting under the umbrella symbol were projected as official candidates,” said Congress secretary Mahila Shalini Joy, who was among the losers.
The leaders alleged that Mr. Chandran acted in a manner that directly benefited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance. “The UDF should have won the panchayat by a clear margin. Instead, Mr. Chandran’s political maneuvers have weakened the Congress and pushed it into the current crisis,” they said.
They warned that any move to readmit Mr. Chandran to the Congress would force them into political silence. “If Mr. Chandran is taken back, we will not be able to face vote-seekers again,” they said.
The leaders alleged that Mr. Chandran had close ties with the BJP and that his group had secured the BJP’s support for the panchayat president election in advance. “The resignation of the Congress panchayat members was done in accordance with the political interests of the BJP,” they alleged.
The Congress members came out with a press conference even as the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee is trying for reconciliation after the Mattathur elections. The leaders alleged that Mr. Chandran and his associates were operating with the support of KPCC secretary Jose Valloor and accused them of running a parallel structure to the DCC in the area.
Block Congress secretary Naushad Kalluparambil, former panchayat member Benny Thondankal and Thangamani Mohan were present at the press meet.
The leaders said they would welcome the KPCC’s decision to reinstate the eight panchayat members who had resigned, provided they step down from the posts of president and vice president.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Congress leaders met MLA Rojy John and urged him to oppose any move to readmit Mr. Chandran and Shafi Kalluparambil into the party.
Published – 31 Dec 2025 20:09 IST
