Kerala Local Bodies: Ramachandran Blames Factionalism and Poor Candidate Picks
Kerala Local Bodies: Ramachandran Blames Factionalism and Poor Candidate Picks
Ramachandran says internal feuds and top-down candidate choices cost Congress in Kerala's 2020 local polls, urging decentralised, development-first governance.
A veteran voice in Kerala politics is pointing to factionalism and flawed candidate selection as the main reasons behind Congress’s disappointing showing in the state’s 2020 three-tier local body elections. The former KPCC chief argues that decisions on who contests should not be left to the whims of individual leaders, warning that disputes among top brass sap the energy of grassroots workers and must be resolved promptly. He emphasises that strengthening local governance through development will shape the United Democratic Front’s strategy in the upcoming polls.
According to him, the 2020 exercise saw many candidates picked by faction leaders without meaningful local consultation. That, he says, was not only embarrassing but also a missed opportunity to mobilise local support and trust. He advocates empowering local bodies and ensuring decentralised planning, backed by the Panchayat and Nagarapalika Act introduced by the Congress-led Union government in 1993, stressing that development and transparency should anchor party strategy.
He also points to ongoing anti-incumbency sentiment and argues that governance failures at the local level—non-performance, corruption, financial mismanagement, and perceived arrogance among some CPI(M) leaders—will influence voters. He claims several local bodies faltered in delivering basic services and that funds were denied when due. He urges party unity and cautions that internal disagreements cannot be allowed to dampen the spirits of grassroots workers.
On the question of the next Chief Ministerial candidate, he says any decision will follow the Congress’s long-established practice and will be announced at the appropriate time. He adds that personal power or age are not the driving motives for him, framing the discourse around democratic processes and the party’s commitment to decentralisation and development as the path forward for Kerala’s local elections.
Cover image source: 244 counting centres for Kerala local body polls 🔗
