Thiruvananthapuram, March 20 (NationPress) In his first comprehensive response following the conclusion of the Congress high command's contentious seat selection process, V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Kerala Assembly, expressed a bold and assured stance on Friday. He emphasized that the United Democratic Front (UDF) achieved one of the most rapid and unified candidate selections in its history.

While addressing the press in Thiruvananthapuram, Satheesan stated that all 140 UDF candidates were announced without “a single discordant note,” emphasizing that the coalition operated as a cohesive “Team UDF.”

He acknowledged that the allies, including the Kerala Congress, made necessary temporary concessions, but insisted that the selection process remained inclusive and driven by consensus.

Addressing critiques regarding a supposed delay in unveiling the Congress list, Satheesan clarified that the party adheres to a structured and consultative approach, in contrast to its competitors.

The state leadership provides recommendations to the screening committee, chaired by Madhusudhan Mistry, after which the central election committee, led by Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, makes the final decision.

“Even then, the initial list was released within 48 hours,” he noted, attributing the slight delay to Mistry’s health concerns.

Satheesan launched a pointed criticism against certain media factions, accusing them of perpetuating a campaign of misleading narratives to depict rifts within the party.

He claimed that in the last 48 hours alone, several “false narratives” were circulated, including speculative reports regarding whether MPs like K. Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash would run for election.

He firmly refuted claims that he had threatened to resign as Leader of the Opposition, labeling them as “unfounded and unethical.”

Furthermore, he accused specific media outlets of promoting unverifiable claims to undermine the Congress and UDF, asserting that such efforts will not influence the election results.

Reiterating that decisions regarding MPs contesting Assembly elections are made solely by the national leadership, he described the controversy as artificially manufactured.

He dismissed allegations of internal conflicts involving leaders like K.C. Venugopal as “absurd.”

With confidence, Satheesan predicted that the UDF would reclaim power with over 100 seats, buoyed by strong public sentiment against the sitting government.

“No amount of misinformation can throw us off course. The people of Kerala seek change, and UDF is prepared to deliver it,” he declared.