The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has strayed from the fundamental objectives of decentralisation and crippled local governance, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, MLA, said on Saturday. He was speaking at ‘Vote Vibe 2025,’ a face-to- face event organised by the Thrissur Press Club.
“The LDF has mixed up every scheme and turned everything into nothing,” he said. “By slashing funds to local bodies, they have tightened a noose around their necks. Development has come to a standstill in every sector.”
Citing the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s [CPI(M)] candidate selection in Payyannur, he remarked, “The party is fielding a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader who has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court’s verdict against the CPI(M)’s injustices will reflect in this election.”
On Mamkootathil
Responding to the controversy surrounding a complaint against Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, Mr. Joseph said the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are contesting the local body polls on issues that truly affect people. “There are far more serious problems troubling the public—farmers’ debt, wild animal attacks, rising prices. These are the concerns we are taking to the people,” he said.
Mr. Joseph also clarified the Congress leadership’s stand on the editorial published in Veekshanam supporting Mr. Mamkootathil. “That editorial is not aligned with the policy or decisions of the Congress. Directions have been issued to correct it,” he said.
He rejected the claim that only he and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan decided to suspend Mr. Mamkootathil. “More than 25 leaders collectively made that decision. Both the Leader of the Opposition and I personally spoke to each leader before arriving at it,” he explained.
Sabarimala issue
Turning to the Sabarimala gold smuggling case, the KPCC president said the CPI(M) has been politically and administratively protecting those responsible for the theft. “The stolen gold has still not been recovered. In Sabarimala, those who were supposed to guard turned into thieves. Even now, the police have not arrested all the accused. Despite court intervention and the appointment of a special investigation team, the lost gold has not been traced, nor have key accused been brought to justice,” he said.
He also raised doubts about the timing of the complaint against Mr. Mamkootathil and the manner in which it reached the Chief Minister’s Office. “Pointing this out is neither protecting the accused nor dismissing the survivor. It is our responsibility to highlight unusual developments,” he added.
Mr. Joseph concluded that the people of Kerala are witnessing both administrative decay and continued protection of wrongdoing under the LDF government, and that these issues will influence the upcoming local body elections.
Published – November 29, 2025 08:49 pm IST
