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Kerala Congress's Arrogance Crumbles in 4 Months; 'Chit System' Betrays Them
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News18•30-09-2026, 09:33
Kerala Congress's Arrogance Crumbles in 4 Months; 'Chit System' Betrays Them
- •Congress-led UDF won 102 out of 140 seats in May 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, considering themselves invincible.
- •The political arrogance of Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's government crumbled within just 4 months (120 days).
- •Results of by-elections for 38 local body wards, declared on September 29, 2026, brought the Congress alliance back to earth.
- •UDF seats decreased from 22 to 19, while opposition (LDF) seats increased from 15 to 18; LDF snatched 7 Congress strongholds.
- •In Palakkad's Paruthikavu ward, the 'chit system' led to an LDF victory over Congress for a prestigious vacated seat.
Key Questions Answered
During the May 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a massive majority by winning 102 out of the 140 seats.
The UDF faced a severe political backlash in the September 2026 by-elections due to local public dissatisfaction with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's government. Key grievances included continuous undeclared power cuts, severe shortages of essential medicines in government hospitals, and extravagant foreign tours by ministers.
Following a complete tie in votes between the main rival candidates after EVM counting in the Paruthikavu ward, the winner was decided by drawing a lottery chit from a box per election rules, which resulted in the opposition LDF candidate winning the seat.
