Exclusive: UDF Faces Internal Strife in Thiruvananthapuram as Kerala Congress (Joseph) to Contest 25 Wards Independently
Thiruvananthapuram: The United Democratic Front (UDF) in Thiruvananthapuram is currently grappling with significant internal strife as the Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction has announced its decision to contest independently in 25 wards of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. This parallel move by the Joseph faction stems from the denial of seats during the UDF’s candidate selection process for the upcoming local body elections.
The immediate trigger for this rebellion is the Congress party’s decision to take over the Poonthura ward, a constituency where the Kerala Congress (Joseph) had successfully contested in the previous election. In a bold display of protest, the Joseph faction has also declared that it will field a candidate against K.S. Sabarinathan, the Congress party’s presumptive mayoral candidate, in the crucial Kavadiyar ward.
This unexpected decision by the Kerala Congress (Joseph) presents a considerable challenge to the Congress, which had already announced candidates in 86 wards and initiated its first phase of campaigning even before the official election notification. During the recent seat-sharing discussions with UDF allies, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) was allotted five seats, and the Communist Marxist Party (CMP) secured three. However, the Joseph faction was conspicuously denied the single seat it had contested and won in 2020, leading to its current independent stance.
The Kerala Congress (Joseph) remains firm on its demand that another seat be allocated to them in exchange for the Poonthura ward, which has been unilaterally claimed by the Congress. The party’s decision to go it alone in 25 wards was finalized after the Congress leadership reportedly refused to accede to this demand. Joseph Alexander of the Kerala Congress (Joseph) will be the contender against K.S. Sabarinathan in Kavadiyar, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle.
The Joseph faction’s candidates are expected to pose a significant rebel threat to the Congress in several other key wards, including Poonkulam, Kalady, Kazhakoottam Chettivilakom, Nemom, and Thiruvallam. While the Congress leadership is currently engaged in urgent discussions with the state leadership of the Kerala Congress (Joseph) in an attempt to reach a reconciliation, the Joseph faction has remained unyielding. They insist that they will not withdraw their candidates unless an alternative seat is provided to compensate for the loss of Poonthura.