Congress to assess local body poll results to prepare for Assembly elections: KC Venugopal

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Saturday said that the party’s camps in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad, on January 4 and 5 would help prepare the Congress for the upcoming Assembly elections. Speaking to the media, he said the party would assess both its wins and losses in the 2025 local body polls and use the findings to shape its Assembly poll strategy.

“We will look into both our victories and setbacks in the local body elections. Based on that, we will prepare for the Assembly elections,” Venugopal said. He added that the Congress would not be distracted and would move forward in line with the wishes of the people against what he described as a state government that “only delivers disasters”.

Referring to the Wadakkanchery controversy, Venugopal alleged that the CPM was willing to use any means to weaken the Congress. An audio clip had gone viral in which League-backed independent member E U Jaffer was allegedly heard claiming that the CPM offered him a ₹50 lakh bribe or the post of Block Panchayat president to influence the election of the panchayat president. After Wadakkanchery MLA and KPCC general secretary Anil Akkara sought a vigilance probe into the matter, Jaffer said his remarks were made in jest.

When asked about the Rahul Mamkootathil row, Venugopal said such controversies would not distract the Congress. “These tactics will not work. We have a clear view of the issues, and everything will become clear once the candidate list is announced,” he said.

Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has been embroiled in a series of controversies, including allegations of rape and forced abortion. On December 6, the Kerala High Court granted him interim protection from arrest in the first rape case. The Principal District and Sessions Court in Vanchiyoor also granted him anticipatory bail in the second rape case.