Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal has urged party leaders in Kerala to refrain from publicly declaring their candidature for the upcoming Assembly elections, emphasizing that such decisions rest with the party leadership. He noted that while internal discussions are permitted, public demands are discouraged. Venugopal highlighted the Congress-led UDF's ability to challenge both the CPI(M) and BJP, citing recent local body election results as a confidence booster, while also stressing the need for humility. He reiterated allegations of a covert alliance between the CPI(M) and BJP.