Congress and BJP face major infighting over candidate lists in the Palakkad local polls

Palakkad: The Congress on Monday finally released its candidates for the Palakkad Municipal Council elections, ending weeks of internal wrangling that exposed the party’s organisational drift in the district. Candidates were named in just 30 of the 43 seats, with the remaining 13 postponed yet again as factional disputes continued to block consensus. Five wards remain in open conflict.

The announcement immediately triggered a fresh wave of dissent. Leaders denied tickets declared they were ready to resign, accusing the party leadership of sidelining grassroots workers and rewarding factional loyalty instead. The block Congress president and four mandalam presidents submitted resignation letters to the DCC chief, signalling that the Congress, despite its public claims of confidence, enters the election season weakened and divided.

The BJP, which has been projecting itself as a disciplined alternative, fared no better. Its candidate list, released today, has sparked criticism from within the party. The faction led by C Krishnakumar appears to have tightened its grip by excluding almost all leaders from the rival camp. Only E Krishnadas and Smitheesh found space in the list, while others were pushed aside. Senior leader N Shivarajan and sitting chairperson Prameela Shashidhar too were denied seats, reinforcing the impression that internal score-settling has overshadowed merit.

Councillors, including Sabu from the opposing faction of Krishnakumar, were also excluded from the list of candidates. N Sivarajan had approached the RSS against being denied a seat. Former Municipal Chairperson Priya Ajayan had posted on Facebook stating that she was ending her political career due to factionalism. BJP workers are posting abusive comments below this post. Due to the intense dispute, the BJP's candidate announcement was delayed.