Wayanad: The Congress has moved into full election mode for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, setting a target of winning over 100 seats by expanding the Congress-led United Democratic Front. The party is also looking to turn Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s signature remark, ‘Kadakku Purathu’ (Get lost), into a rallying cry against the Left government.

The proposal was presented by election strategist Sunil Kanugolu as part of a study report at the Congress camp titled 'Mission 2026'. The party plans to replicate in Kerala the campaign model it adopted in Telangana and Karnataka, where rival chief ministers were directly targeted. The strategy was finalised at the two-day KPCC Leadership Summit 2026, which concluded at Sultan Bathery on Monday.

Party leaders said the confidence to set a 100-seat target was drawn from the Congress-led UDF’s performance in the recent local body elections, which they believe showed the CPM-led Left Democratic Front is vulnerable. The leadership assessed that the results were not accidental but the outcome of sustained organisational work and social outreach.

Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan said the UDF was no longer functioning merely as an opposition front but as a coalition preparing to assume power. He outlined plans to fine-tune seat-sharing arrangements, including constituency exchanges, based on winnability. The alliance will also be broadened into ‘UDF Plus’, with greater outreach to religious, community and social organisations.

“There will be surprises before the elections. Many from the LDF and NDA will join the UDF,” Satheesan said. He confirmed that expanding the alliance was a priority, with discussions under way with several groups. Outreach to parties currently aligned with the LDF, including Kerala Congress (M), was also discussed, though the Jose K Mani-led party has not officially confirmed talks.

The summit deliberated on key political, religious and social issues, including the alleged loss of gold at the Sabarimala temple and concerns of people living in coastal and hilly regions. Leaders said the UDF would present an alternative development vision for Kerala, centred on economic revival and people-centric governance. Satheesan said the Congress and the UDF would place before the people a clear roadmap to revive Kerala, focusing on governance failures of the Left government and offering credible alternatives. He said the alliance was confident of returning to power and creating a “surprise” in the 2026 elections.

Early candidate selection was another focus area. While leaders noted there was time to finalise candidates, they agreed that winnability would be the primary criterion, with seat-sharing adjustments made in consultation with UDF partners.

The party also reviewed social outreach efforts, noting growing support for the Congress-led UDF among sections of the Christian community, particularly in the non-Catholic belt from Kollam to Kottayam, alongside renewed consolidation of its traditional Catholic base. Leaders also observed increased engagement from Sunni Muslim groups that had earlier supported the Left Front, and rising dissatisfaction with the Left government among sections of the Hindu community.

Addressing the media, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the Congress would lead sustained protest movements on issues including the alleged Sabarimala gold theft and proposed changes to the employment guarantee scheme. He alleged that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was being weakened through legal amendments, including the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name.

As part of nationwide protests, Joseph announced a KPCC-led day-and-night agitation in front of the Accountant General’s office in Thiruvananthapuram on January 13 and 14. He also said a ‘Mahapanchayat’ would be held on January 19, bringing together winners and contestants from the local body elections, to be inaugurated by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

A UDF yatra led by Gandhi, aimed at building support for a ‘new Kerala’, will begin on February 6. Joseph said candidate selection processes would progress alongside the yatra. The KPCC chief said the Congress had earned the trust of the people and would move forward with committed action to uphold that trust.

The Leadership Summit concluded with a call for intensified grassroots-level mobilisation in the months ahead.