Former CPM MLA Aisha Potty Joins Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led UDF in Kerala got a boost on Tuesday when three-time former CPM MLA Aisha Potty joined the party.

Potty arrived at the Kerala PCC’s “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” protest venue in front of the Lok Bhavan along with Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan, Kodikunnil Suresh MP, and MLA P C Vishnunath. She was invited on to the stage and formally given Congress membership by PCC president Sunny Joseph, in the presence of AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and AICC in charge of Kerala Deepadas Munshi .

Aisha Potty had won the Kottarakkara assembly constituency in Kollam district three times in a row—in 2006, 2011, and 2016—achieving her biggest margin in 2016 with a victory of over 42,000 votes. However, she was not fielded in the 2021 election, when CPM’s K N Balagopal won the seat by a smaller margin of 10,814 votes.

Congress leaders believe the UDF would have a strong chance of reclaiming the seat if Potty is fielded from Kottarakkara in the upcoming polls.

Aisha Potty’s departure comes close on the heels of CPM’s loss in the Kollam corporation elections. The Congress scored a remarkable win, bringing an end to the CPM’s 25-year rule.

Kollam has long been an LDF stronghold, and in the 2021 assembly elections, the LDF secured 7 of the district’s 11 seats, while the UDF won 4.

When asked why she decided to join Congress, Potty said a section of the CPM leadership had ignored her. "I felt there was no space for me in the party's plans. I was feeling isolated," she said, adding, "I know they will call me a traitor and a class enemy, but I don’t want to say anything against anyone."

“My decision will hurt many CPM workers, and in the coming days, I expect a fierce backlash on social media. I’m ready to face the storm. I don’t want to blame anyone—it’s just not who I am. I came here without seeking any position; I simply want to be a regular worker, she said.

Reacting to Potty’s decision, former minister and veteran CPM leader Mercykutty Amma said the party had given her all the important positions, including three-time MLA and District Panchayat President. Her greed for positions clearly indicates the degradation in people.

“She has betrayed the party and the people she once represented,” she said.

Mercykutty Amma mentioned that the Kollam district party could manage the situation following Potty’s exit. Some CPM leaders also remarked that her departure wouldn’t impact the party much, as she was rarely active in the constituency.