Thiruvananthapuram, March 20: V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, expressed confidence in the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) prospects following the seat-sharing agreement announced by the Congress high command. Speaking to the media, Satheesan stated that the UDF has completed its candidate selection process more swiftly and cohesively than ever before in its history.
Addressing reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, he noted that all 140 candidates for the UDF were announced without any dissent, emphasizing that the coalition operates as a united “Team UDF.” While acknowledging that temporary agreements were made with allied parties, he insisted that the process was inclusive and consensus-driven.
Satheesan dismissed criticisms regarding the alleged delay in releasing the Congress candidate list, clarifying that, unlike rival parties, the Congress adheres to a structured and consultative process. Recommendations are presented to a screening committee led by state leader Madhusoodan Mistry, after which the final decision is made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and the central election committee led by senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
He mentioned that despite the brief delay, the first list was released within 48 hours, attributing the hold-up to health issues faced by Mistry.
In a pointed critique of certain media outlets, Satheesan accused them of spreading fabricated narratives about divisions within the party. He refuted claims regarding resignations from the Leader of the Opposition position as baseless and unethical.
He also condemned the exaggeration of unverified claims aimed at damaging the Congress and UDF’s reputation, asserting that such efforts would not influence the election results. Satheesan reiterated that decisions regarding candidates for the assembly elections are made solely by national leadership, labeling the controversy as artificially created.
He dismissed reports of internal disagreements involving leaders like K.C. Venugopal as ludicrous. With optimism, Satheesan asserted that the UDF would return to power with over 100 seats, bolstered by strong public sentiment against the current government.
He concluded by stating that no amount of misinformation could derail their campaign, as the people of Kerala are seeking change, and the UDF is ready to deliver.
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