Kerala Polls: Congress' KC Venugopal Says Welfare Guarantees To Help UDF Win; BJP Won’t Open Account

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the BJP will fail to win even one seat in Kerala and argued that the UDF’s planned welfare guarantees, modelled on schemes in Karnataka and Telangana, are set to succeed in the state during the upcoming elections.

Venugopal explained that the Congress studied Kerala’s finances before finalising the five guarantees. The promises include free bus travel for all women and a monthly payment of Rs 1,000 for college-going girl students, measures that the party believes respond to current social and economic needs.

Kerala BJP prospects and K C Venugopal on UDF welfare guarantees

Detailing the proposed welfare package, Venugopal said women workers in Kerala face severe strain in daily life. The UDF offer therefore combines transport support, higher pensions and health coverage, which the Congress leader described as essential to easing financial pressure on households across the state.

He said women in Kerala, despite living in a state often described as progressive, are facing intense hardship. Venugopal listed groups such as agricultural labourers, MGNREGA workers, cashew workers and fisherwomen, and said their workload and responsibilities have become “enormous” and their lives “miserable”.

Venugopal added that the UDF aims to back women through three major measures: free bus services for women in Kerala, a welfare pension raised to Rs 3,000, and health insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh for medical issues that may hit families hard.

K C Venugopal, BJP challenge in Kerala and UDF welfare guarantees debate

On the BJP’s prospects in Kerala, Venugopal dismissed talk of a serious challenge to the UDF, arguing that the saffron party’s gains in the last local body elections were limited. He described the results as “very nominal” and said there was no “substantial” breakthrough for the BJP.

“It is only a perception. Nothing is there. Just two months before, the local body elections happened. How many district panchayat members did they get? How many municipalities did they get? Very nominal. There is nothing substantial. The BJP cannot open any account in Kerala,” Venugopal said.

Venugopal, who represents the Alappuzha parliamentary constituency, said the UDF is asking voters for a mandate to deliver cleaner administration and better governance. According to Venugopal, people are dissatisfied with the Left Democratic Front government’s record over the past decade in Kerala.

He argued that the LDF administration has turned “anti-people” and claimed that its actions have upset citizens across sections. “Now people want to have a change in government. Every sector, you can see that, youth, women, farmers, and labourers, all are unhappy with this government attitude,” Venugopal said.

LDF record, K C Venugopal corruption charges and UDF welfare guarantees

Alleging serious corruption under the current government, Venugopal cited the issue of bar licences in Kerala. He said around 200 bars received licences despite lacking the mandatory classification certificate from the Tourism department, which, according to Venugopal, points to clear wrongdoing.

“Every bar is required for the classification certificate after 5 years. But without that classification certificate, the government had issued 200 bars certificate. It's a clear case of corruption,” Venugopal alleged, linking the controversy to wider concerns over transparency in Kerala’s administration.

Venugopal also mentioned the Sabarimala gold loss issue, arguing that this case has further damaged trust in the government. The controversy, according to Venugopal, has become another reason why many voters feel a strong need for change in Kerala’s political leadership.

Chief minister question, K C Venugopal stand and Kerala welfare guarantees

On the question of who would be projected as chief minister if the UDF wins, Venugopal said Congress does not usually announce a CM candidate in advance. He pointed out that in 2016, Pinarayi Vijayan was also not formally declared as the LDF’s CM face before the polls.

“This election is not about making anybody the chief minister of Kerala. In 2016 also, Pinarayi Vijayan was not projected as the CM face for the LDF in Kerala. Don't worry about these things. After the election, Congress will immediately find a CM, and he will run the state along with others,” Venugopal said.

Venugopal stressed that the central issues for voters, in his view, are welfare guarantees, a change of government, and improved governance, rather than individual leadership names. He maintained that the UDF’s promises and criticism of the LDF have tapped into public discontent across Kerala.