Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Sunny Joseph on Sunday expressed gratitude to the United Democratic Front (UDF) following its sweeping victory in the local body elections, describing the outcome as the product of sustained collective effort by the party’s leadership and grassroots workers alike.
Addressing the media, Sunny Joseph said the scale of the victory did not come as a surprise, as the UDF had begun groundwork and preparations well in advance. He attributed the success to a series of protest campaigns organized across the state against what he termed the government’s anti-people policies, which helped consolidate public sentiment in favour of the opposition.
Highlighting the organizational revamp undertaken by the KPCC, he pointed to strengthened ward-level activity, closer coordination with local leadership, and timely interventions by the Congress on people-centric issues as decisive factors in the electoral outcome. According to him, these measures ensured that public grievances were effectively translated into political momentum.
The KPCC president also criticised the state government’s actions in the run-up to the polls, alleging that an amendment bill was passed to redraw ward boundaries in an unscientific manner, allegedly to divert attention and weaken the opposition. He further claimed that voter lists were compromised by the inclusion of ineligible names and the presence of duplicate votes. Despite these hurdles, he said, the electorate delivered a clear verdict in favour of the Congress-led UDF, acknowledging the active role played by party leaders and workers on the ground.
At the same time, Sunny Joseph struck a note of caution, stating that the Congress would not take the mandate for granted. Referring specifically to the BJP’s growing presence in Thiruvananthapuram, he said the party leadership was taking the development seriously and would study it carefully.
“We will accept this victory with humility,” he said, adding that the UDF’s representatives would function as servants of the people, committed to addressing public concerns and justifying the trust reposed in them. He reaffirmed that the Congress and the UDF would continue to prioritise people-oriented governance and remain vigilant against divisive and anti-democratic forces.