Mattathur political drama: When BJP, Congress joined hands to keep Left out

The incident prompted CPI(M) to once again raise its refrain — “Today’s Congress is tomorrow’s BJP”.

• Mattathur Congress rebels joined BJP to block CPI(M)-led LDF from power.
• Congress members deny joining BJP or receiving election party whip
• Kerala CM criticized Congress-BJP alliance, warning of democratic erosion

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The political drama in the Mattathur grama panchayat showed no signs of abating, with rebel Congress members stepping forward to counter the party leadership’s claims, even as the District Congress Committee (DCC) announced suspensions.

In a dramatic episode of political expediency, the Congress members of a panchayat in Kerala quit the party and joined hands with the BJP to keep the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front from power at a village panchayat.

They then elected a Congress rebel, who had contested as an Independent, as president of Mattathur panchayat in Thrissur. Another Congress rebel, who also contested as an Independent, was the Left’s candidate.

The dramatic incident prompted the state’s ruling CPI(M) to once again raise its refrain — “Today’s Congress is tomorrow’s BJP”.

Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said in a post on X, “What happened at Mattathur panchayat in Kerala yesterday reveals a vicious trend; Congress members joining hands with BJP to seize power. This politics of turncoats directly strengthens the Sangh Parivar’s project by normalising defections and eroding democratic mandates. Such conduct, seen earlier in Arunachal, Goa and Puducherry, fuels BJP’s ambitions in Kerala. Congress leadership must respond clearly to this dangerous drift,” he said.

Elections to the posts of panchayat president and vice president, which determine which party rules a panchayat governing body, were held on Friday across Kerala. In the 24-strong Mattathur panchayat, the LDF had most seats, with 10. The Congress had eight members, while the BJP only had four. Two Congress rebels, who had contested as Independents, had also won.

Minutes before the elections, the Congress members resigned from the party and backed the party rebel, who was fielded by the BJP. One of the Congress members, who quit the party, was elected as vice-president with BJP support.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, panchayat president Tessy Thomas and expelled former DCC general secretary T.M. Chandran categorically denied allegations that Congress members had defected to the BJP. They described as ‘blatantly false’ the DCC president’s claim that a party whip had been issued for the president election or that Congress members had formally joined the BJP. Mandalam president Shafi Kalluparambil and other ward members were also present at the press meet.