Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 28 -- Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Sunday strongly criticised Congress after eight party councillors resigned and joined hands with the BJP to gain power in the Mattathur grama panchayat.

CM Vijayan, in an X post, slammed Congress, stating that "turncoats" strengthen the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's project by "normalising defections." Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, he said that such defections "fuel the BJP's ambitions" in the state.

"What happened in Mattathur Panchayat in Kerala yesterday reveals a vicious trend: Congress members joining hands with the BJP to seize power. This politics of turncoats directly strengthens the Sangh Parivar's project by normal...