Written by Shaju PhilipThiruvanananthapuram | December 29, 2025 08:53 AM IST 3 min readThe dramatic incident prompted the state’s ruling CPI(M) to once again raise its refrain — “Today’s Congress is tomorrow’s BJP”.To keep the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front from power at a village panchayat in Kerala, the Congress members of the panchayat quit the party and joined hands with the BJP. They then elected a Congress rebel, who had contested as an Independent, as president of Mattathur panchayat in Thrissur. Another Congress rebel, who also contested as an Independent, was the Left’s candidate.The dramatic incident prompted the state’s ruling CPI(M) to once again raise its refrain — “Today’s Congress is tomorrow’s BJP”.Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said in a post on X, “What happened at Mattathur panchayat in Kerala yesterday reveals a vicious trend; Congress members joining hands with BJP to seize power. This politics of turncoats directly strengthens the Sangh Parivar’s project by normalising defections and eroding democratic mandates. Such conduct, seen earlier in Arunachal, Goa and Puducherry, fuels BJP’s ambitions in Kerala. Congress leadership must respond clearly to this dangerous drift,” he said.Elections to the posts of panchayat president and vice president, which determine which party rules a panchayat governing body, were held on Friday across Kerala. In the 24-strong Mattathur panchayat, the LDF had most seats, with 10. The Congress had eight members, while the BJP only had four. Two Congress rebels, who had contested as Independents, had also won.Minutes before the elections, the Congress members resigned from the party and backed the party rebel, who was fielded by the BJP. One of the Congress members, who quit the party, was elected as vice-president with BJP support.Congress district committee president Joseph Tajet on Sunday said the eight Congress elected members and two rebels were suspended from the primary membership of the party on charges of defection. He said the party had issued a Whip to the members, who had joined hands with the BJP. He said the party would move the Election Commission against the members, pointing out they had violated the anti-defection law.A senior BJP leader from Thrissur, B Gopalakrishan, said the CPI(M) was attempting horse trading by fielding a Congress rebel as presidential candidate. On the Congress members who quit, he said they had approached the BJP for support. “We put forward the demand that the Congress members should quit the party. When they quit the Congress, we embraced them,” he said.Story continues below this adPanchayat president Tessy Joseph, who had quit the Congress, told the media on Sunday, “BJP members might have voted for us because of their opposition towards CPI(M). The Left wanted to retain power at the panchayat to cover up the corruption of their previous regime. Our attempt was to counter it and the BJP eventually supported it.”Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd