Rebel Nominations Escalate UDF’s Internal Crisis Ahead of Local Body Polls

Palakkad: After multiple rebel candidates filed nominations for the upcoming local body polls, UDF is facing intense internal conflicts. Following disputes over seat allocation, several UDF constituent parties have announced that they will contest independently in multiple regions.REbel candidates have filed nominations in 12 grama panchayat wards, one block panchayat division, and three municipal divisions.

Thrithala Block Congress Secretary C.A. Ramshad will contest as an independent in the Karukaputhur division of the block panchayat. KSU district vice president Aslam Pookkarath will run independently in Ward 8 of Thirumittakkod. In Kannadi panchayat, sitting Congress member Sunitha has filed nominatiuon as rebel in ward 12. Congress worker Swaminathan incontesting as a rebel in ward 23 of Pudussery Panchayat.

In Pattambi Municipality, K.T. Rukhiya has filed as a Congress rebel in Division 25. Mandalam vice president K.A. Rajesh is contesting as a rebel in Naduthara ward of Kuthannur Panchayat. Congress worker Yahiyan is in the fray as a rebel in Ward 2 of Kottayi Panchayat. In Mathur Panchayat, former panchayat member Ratnamani Narayanan (Ward 4) and former Youth Congress mandalam president Pavithran (Ward 11) have entered as rebels.

In Thenkurussi Panchayat, active Congress worker A. Chandradas will contest independently in Ward 4. In Ottappalam Municipality, former mandalam president and block general secretary M. Unnikrishnan (Meethna ward), standing committee chairman K. Saravanakumar (Elappully), former panchayat member K. Appukuttan, Congress leader Udayan from Midhunampallam in Kodumba, and Vandozhi panchayat member Dinoj Kombara are all contesting as rebel candidates.

In Palakkad Municipality, UDF constituent National Janata Dal has announced it will contest independently in protest over being denied seats.

The widespread revolt is seen as a major setback for the UDF as internal dissent continues to escalate during the election run-up.