Sultan Bathery (Kerala): AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the Congress has set a target of winning 100 seats in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, asserting that early candidate selection and strict organisational discipline would be key to achieving the goal.

Addressing the inaugural session of Lakshya 2026, a two-day leadership camp organised as part of preparations for the Assembly polls, on Sunday, Venugopal said Kerala’s 140-seat Assembly would see a focused and strategic campaign by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

To meet the target, Venugopal said candidate selection would be completed well in advance, in line with party guidelines, with winnability as the primary criterion. He said the AICC screening committee for Kerala had already been constituted and its work would be expedited following consultations with senior state leaders.

“Youth will be given opportunities this time as well, and the candidate list will be a blend of young leaders and women,” Venugopal said, reiterating that the party intends to announce candidates before the election notification to gain an organisational edge.

Calling for internal discipline, he said KPCC and DCC office-bearers must function with complete accountability. “We should not make self-announcements about candidature. Let us wait for the party's declared decision,” he said, while adding that leaders are free to hold discussions with the party leadership but should avoid public debates on candidature.

Venugopal alleged that the CPM and the BJP view the Congress and the UDF as their common political enemy, but said the results of the recent local body elections in Kerala had proved that the Congress can effectively challenge both parties.

“The victory has given confidence to Congress workers that even if the CPM and BJP combine, we can face them,” he said, adding that the mandate should make party leaders more humble.

“People are the masters of democracy. We should humbly strengthen our political activities before the public over the next four months,” he said.

Venugopal said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s claim of returning to power for a third consecutive term had suffered a setback after the local body election results. However, he cautioned that the LDF would not remain passive. “There are backstage discussions going on,” he alleged.

He further claimed that a secret understanding between the CPI(M) and the BJP had become increasingly evident in recent months, citing the Kerala government’s haste in clearing certain central projects as indicative of an “unholy alliance”.

“This alliance is not liked by workers of either party. It exists to protect the interests of certain leaders in both camps and will continue into the Assembly election,” Venugopal alleged.

Criticising the Narendra Modi-led central government, Venugopal said amendments to the employment guarantee scheme had weakened its very foundation, prompting the Congress to organise nationwide protests. He also accused the Centre of undermining Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of village self-rule by removing his name from the scheme.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the UDF registered a resounding victory in the local body elections despite challenges such as unscientific ward delimitation and flawed voter lists. He alleged that the LDF government amended the Panchayat Raj Act with political motives and pushed the bill through the Assembly without adequate discussion, followed by distorted ward delimitation.

Lakshya 2026 is being held to finalise campaign strategies for the Kerala Assembly elections and is attended by senior Congress leaders, including KPCC office-bearers, MLAs, MPs and leaders of affiliated organisations.

Recently, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly said that 50 per cent of Congress candidates would be women and young leaders, signalling a generational shift in the party’s electoral approach.

PTI