Congress Accuses CPI(M) and NDA of Secret Pact Ahead of Kerala Elections
In a recent press conference, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala accused the CPI(M) and NDA of forming a secret alliance to keep Congress out of power in Kerala. He claimed that this agreement began during the 2021 elections and has led to significant vote transfers. Chennithala also highlighted the postponement of the SNC-Lavalin corruption case, alleging political favoritism. The unfolding political dynamics in Kerala raise questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the strategies employed by the ruling parties.
Mar 25, 2026, 12:29 IST
Allegations of a Secret Agreement
The Congress party has reiterated its claims regarding a "secret agreement" between the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the lead-up to the Kerala assembly elections. During a press conference in Kozhikode on Wednesday (March 25, 2026), senior Congress leader and permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, Ramesh Chennithala, stated that an "unwritten political understanding" exists between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at keeping Congress out of power in Kerala. Chennithala alleged that this alliance began during the 2021 elections, with the goal of isolating the United Democratic Front (UDF) and realizing the dream of a Congress-free India.
Vote Transfer Allegations
Chennithala asserted that during the 2021 elections, votes from 69 NDA seats were transferred to CPI(M). He noted that at that time, the UDF received 40% of the votes. In the last parliamentary elections, the NDA's vote share dropped from 14% to 10%. Due to this vote transfer, the LDF secured 44% of the votes and maintained its power. He indicated that a similar political scenario is unfolding again. As an example, he mentioned that the NDA's component party, the corporate-backed political group Twenty20, which is limited to the Kunnathunad area in Ernakulam district, has now been allocated 22 seats. “Candidates from Twenty20 have been fielded in key constituencies where senior CPI(M) candidates are facing electoral challenges. In other areas, another NDA component party, the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), is contesting elections, with most of their candidates being relatively unknown or unfamiliar,” he added.
Corruption Allegations and Political Criticism
Chennithala further accused that the SNC-Lavalin corruption case, in which Vijayan is the seventh accused, has been postponed 41 times due to this "secret agreement." He pointed out that Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were interrogated for hours, while former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was imprisoned on corruption charges. However, Vijayan has not even received a notice. He questioned whether anyone has ever heard Vijayan criticize Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah, either inside or outside the assembly.