‘Giant killer’ and CPM veteran switches camp to Congress in Kerala, says ‘few decision makers made things difficult’
P Aisha Potty, who represented the Kottarakkara assembly seat from 2006 to 2021, is likely to be fielded from the constituency in the upcoming state polls.
2 min readThiruvanananthapuramJan 13, 2026 03:33 PM IST
Later, all the leaders travelled together in a single vehicle to the SDM office as part of the rally where a large crowd had gathered, and gave him a memorandum of their demands. (File Photo)
Former three-term CPI(M) legislator P Aisha Potty, who had been maintaining a distance from her party in recent months, joined the Congress on Tuesday. Potty represented the Kottarakkara assembly seat from 2006 to 2021.
Potty, who had a three-decade association with the CPI(M), is likely to be fielded as the Congress candidate from the Kottarakkara seat, currently represented by senior CPI(M) leader and finance minister K N Balagopal. Kerala goes to polls later this year.
Potty, a lawyer by profession, had emerged as a giant killer for the CPI(M) in the 2006 assembly elections, when she defeated prominent UDF leader and Kerala Congress (B) veteran R Balakrishna Pillai, who had represented that seat for nearly three decades. In the 2011 and 2016 assembly elections, Potty had retained the seat for the CPI(M).
In 2006, Potty took oath as a member of the legislative assembly in the name of god, which left the CPI(M) red-faced. The party, then led by state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, had censured Potty as a result.
“The CPI(M) has changed from the days I joined. A few decision makers have made it difficult for me. I have no space in the party. I feel that the party no longer requires me,” she said on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Opposition leader V D Satheesan said that state politics will see surprises before the assembly elections. “Parties and leaders from LDF and NDA will join the UDF in the coming days,” he said.
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Referring to the speculation that LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) is divided over continuing in the alliance, Satheesan said, “There would be surprises. We do not want to question the credibility of the Kerala Congress (M).”
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
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