In a significant move to revitalise its grassroots machinery, the Congress party in Kerala has rolled out an aggressive calendar of protests and campaigns following a high-level brainstorming session in Kozhikode. The two-day 'Lakshya' leadership summit concluded with a clear battle plan aimed at sharpening the party's political narrative and energising its workers ahead of crucial electoral battles.
A Packed Agenda of Protests and Campaigns
KPCC president Sunny Joseph presented a detailed programme schedule, kicking off with a day-and-night protest in front of the Accountant General's office in Thiruvananthapuram on January 13 and 14. This agitation will target the changes introduced by the Narendra Modi-led central government in the MGNREGA scheme, which the party claims are detrimental to workers.
The party will then organise a major march to the state assembly on January 20, demanding that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrest all individuals involved in the high-profile Sabarimala gold smuggling scam. To amplify this demand, protest marches will be held across all district headquarters on January 23.
Focus on Electoral Integrity and Booth Reorganisation
Sunny Joseph also raised a critical issue concerning voter lists. He alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Kerala has led to lakhs of eligible voters being removed from the electoral rolls on technical grounds. "All citizens above 18 years must be allowed to exercise their franchise, and electoral rolls for assembly elections must be foolproof. The party will stand with the people on this issue," he asserted.
In a parallel organisational effort, the KPCC will undertake a massive exercise to strengthen and reorganise booth committees across the state. This restructuring will align with the recent changes in booth boundaries, aiming to create a more robust ground-level network.
Rahul Gandhi to Inaugurate Mahapanchayat, Screening Committee Formed
A key highlight of the upcoming events is a Mahapanchayat on January 19, to be inaugurated by the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. This gathering is designed to bring together newly elected members of the three-tier local bodies, fostering unity and a common strategy.
On the electoral front, the party has initiated the candidate selection process for the upcoming polls. A screening committee headed by senior leader Madhusudan Mistry has been announced. The committee members will soon visit Kerala, where the state-level election committee will meet, submit its recommendations, and hold detailed discussions.
Condemnation of Foreign Policy and Sabarimala Scam Attack
The Lakshya summit also saw the party adopting a resolution that condemned the recent US attack on Venezuela. It criticised the Union government for what it termed a diluted response to Washington's "imperialistic" move of capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Adding to the political offensive, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal launched a scathing attack on the state government over the Sabarimala gold scam. He stated that Kerala was suffering the consequences of entrusting the Devaswom Board to people who have no faith. He accused the CPI(M) and the state government of siding with those involved in the gold loot that shocked the nation, promising strong and sustained protest campaigns on the issue.
Venugopal summarised that the two-day summit successfully outlined programmes to strengthen the party's work and take its message more effectively to the people. Accordingly, a series of focused campaigns, outreach initiatives, and agitations will mark the Congress's political strategy in Kerala in the coming days.
