The Congress party in Kerala wrapped up a high-profile two-day leadership conference in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad on Monday, exuding confidence that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will secure over 100 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections. The conclave, titled ‘Lakshya 2026’, brought together nearly 150 state and district-level leaders to formulate a detailed electoral strategy aimed at unseating the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Unity on Display

The conference showcased a united front within Kerala Congress, with top leaders including AICC general secretaries Deepa Das Munshi and KC Venugopal, state president Sunny Joseph, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, former Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, KPCC executive members, MPs, MLAs, and district officials in attendance. Notably, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who had previously been at odds with a section of the state leadership over remarks perceived as favorable to the BJP, participated actively in the discussions, signalling his commitment to the UDF campaign. Tharoor clarified to reporters, “Who said that I broke the party’s line? I always believed the party stood with me. On basic issues, there have never been any difference of opinion. In majority of issues, my view and the party’s view remained the same.”

The show of solidarity aimed to convey a strong message that the party is cohesive and ready to contest the elections with a well-coordinated strategy.

Data-Driven Strategy

The conference was marked by analytical and micro-level electoral planning. Election strategist Sunil Kanugolu, who had played a crucial role in Congress’s successful Karnataka campaign in 2023, presented a detailed report on the party’s prospects across Kerala. His presentation included insights into constituencies where the UDF holds an advantage, areas requiring intensive ground mobilisation, and strategies to consolidate anti-incumbency sentiment against the LDF.

Leaders also deliberated on key campaign issues expected to resonate with voters, including:

• Alleged theft of gold assets from the Sabarimala temple.
• Rising prices and inflation.
• Joblessness and economic stagnation.
• Perceived administrative paralysis under the Vijayan government.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph announced concrete steps to leverage these issues, including a statewide series of protests and rallies. “On January 20, we will hold an Assembly march in Thiruvananthapuram, and on January 23, protest marches in all 14 districts demanding a transparent, strong probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case,” he said.

Statewide Outreach Plans

The UDF is also planning a comprehensive statewide yatra in February under the leadership of VD Satheesan, aimed at taking the party’s messaging directly to voters. The yatra will cover a broad range of public concerns, consolidating support across constituencies where the UDF sees potential to swing the electorate in its favor.

Satheesan, in his closing address, highlighted the transformation of the UDF into a “broader political platform” rather than just a coalition of parties. He asserted that the alliance had been able to attract supporters from both the LDF and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the years. “In 2016 and 2021, those who were not with us are with us today. Hundreds of people and outfits who believed in previous decades that the LDF was the ‘ideal choice’ are now aligned with the UDF platform. Today, they harbour hopes of unseating this government. The LDF is now the extreme right-wing, and we are the Nehruvian Left. Today, the UDF has the base to win over 100 seats across the state,” he said.

Addressing Internal Criticism

The leadership also sought to address perceptions of internal rivalry within the Congress regarding the Chief Ministerial candidate. Satheesan dismissed such narratives as politically motivated by the CPM, emphasizing the party’s collective approach to leadership and decision-making. “It is the CPM’s narrative. I am proud to say that there is a galaxy of leaders within Congress. We have good leaders. We are a national party, and our national leadership will intervene and take the right decisions. Not a single person will cry foul. We will act as a team and respond to all such criticisms,” he said.

Electoral Outlook

The ‘Lakshya 2026’ conference underscored Congress’s ambitions to consolidate its position ahead of the Assembly elections. With a combination of micro-level constituency planning, focus on anti-incumbency issues, and high-profile leadership participation, the party aims to project an image of a unified and capable alternative to the LDF government.

By aligning leaders across the state, engaging in public mobilization campaigns, and strategically highlighting governance and corruption issues, the UDF appears intent on translating its confidence into electoral gains, targeting over 100 seats in Kerala’s 140-member Assembly.

The conference reflected a renewed focus on grassroots engagement and coalition-building, signalling that the Congress is determined to present a credible challenge to the incumbent government and reclaim power in the southern state.