Senior Congress leader N. Sakthan has been appointed interim president of the Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) following the resignation of Palode Ravi on Saturday, triggered by a leaked phone conversation predicting a dismal electoral performance for Congress. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) acted swiftly with local body and assembly elections looming.

Sakthan, a seasoned politician who served as Kerala Assembly Speaker (2015-2016) and Transport Minister (2004-2006), vowed to leverage his experience to boost Congress’s prospects. Having represented Nemom (2001, 2006) and Kattakkada (2011) in the assembly, he expressed confidence in securing more seats for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the upcoming polls, tentatively set for December 2025 (local bodies) and April-May 2026 (assembly).

The controversy erupted when a phone call between Ravi and local leader A. Jaleel, aired by TV channels, revealed Ravi’s pessimistic outlook on Congress’s electoral chances. The KPCC promptly demanded Ravi’s resignation and expelled Jaleel for anti-party activities. The leak sent shockwaves through the state leadership, which has been projecting a strong UDF victory.

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Addressing the media, Sakthan defended Ravi, urging channels to release the full conversation to clarify his intentions, while acknowledging that Ravi’s choice of words was unfortunate. The shake-up underscores internal challenges for Congress as it navigates factionalism and prepares for critical elections.

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