New Delhi: Congress leader and Haripad Assembly candidate Ramesh Chennithala on Friday said the party leadership will take a final decision on electing him as chief minister for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. Referring to his 50-year-old relationship with veteran leader Sonia Gandhi and the Nehru family, Chennithala stressed that he would abide by the party’s decision.
“The party will take a decision. I have close association with the Sonia Gandhi-Nehru family for 50 years; I will follow their decision,” he told ANI.When asked about his personal preference between Delhi and Trivandrum, he added: “I like both Delhi and Trivandrum. I will follow the decision of the party leadership. “Chennithala is confident that the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) will return to power in Kerala.“Only a few days are left. The prospects of the Congress party look very promising. A Congress-led United Front will form the government. People are with us. Nothing major happened in the last decade. Kerala has gone backwards. People are with us. The government will be formed with a majority under the leadership of the Congress party,” he said.He highlighted the UDF manifesto, calling it comprehensive and citizen-centric. Major promises include Indira’s guarantees such as a pension of Rs 2,000, interest-free loan of Rs 5 lakh to youths, free KSRTC trips for women, monthly support of Rs 1,000 to college-going girls, setting up a separate ministry for senior citizens and provision of health insurance.“People believe in our manifesto,” he added.Criticizing the CPI(M)-led LDF government, Chennithala said: “Under the current government, nothing happened in the last ten years. People are suffering and unhappy. After they see the government’s performance over the past ten years, they will definitely support us. Our positive agenda will also win the trust that will lead to the formation of our government. “He also downplayed the role of the BJP in Kerala, saying “BJP is not a factor here. Communal politics will not work in Kerala. People here are educated. They (BJP) are not competing to win but to reduce votes.”
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What is most important when choosing a party’s chief ministerial candidate?
Commenting on the LDF’s strategy of electing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as its campaign spokesperson, he said: “Pinarayi Vijayan is the chief minister, so they will elect him. They lack other leaders. That is not the case with us. There are many capable people. Everyone’s face is among the people. The people will choose who will be the best chief minister. There is no infighting in the Congress.”Polling for the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections will be held in one phase on April 9 and counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. The term of this parliament will end on May 23.
