Less than a year after resigning from the Kerala Congress to launch his own political outfit, Kerala Congress (Democratic) chairman Saji Manjakadambil and his followers have announced their decision to join the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
A formal announcement regarding the faction’s exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and its merger with the TMC was made on Wednesday (February 26, 2025) in the presence of P.V. Anvar, the party’s State coordinator. Explaining the decision to align with the TMC, Mr. Manjakadambil also revealed plans to hold a merger convention in Kottayam this April.
He attributed the shift to the NDA’s “persistent neglect of crucial issues”, particularly the increasing wildlife attacks and the declining rubber prices, which he claimed the BJP-led coalition had failed to bring to the Union government’s attention.
“Although we were inducted into the NDA, we have not been invited to a single coalition meeting so far,” he said.
The Kerala Congress faction’s merger with the TMC is seen as a strategic advantage for the party, particularly in its outreach to the Christian community in Kerala.
Official sources suggest that the move will allow the TMC to tap into issues championed by the Catholic Church in the State. The move is also expected to enable Mr. Manjakadambil, who had earlier served as chairman of the UDF Kottayam district committee, to return to the Congress-led coalition.
Published – February 26, 2025 01:42 pm IST