UDF candidates who lost in the Mattathur grama panchayat elections accused former DCC secretary T.M. Chandran of misleading voters about party symbols. At a press meet in Thrissur Press Club, they said voters were wrongly told the umbrella—not the hand—is the Congress symbol. "We contested on the hand symbol and sought votes as Congress candidates. However, a systematic attempt was made to portray us as rebels," said Mahila Congress district secretary Shalini Joy. The leaders said Chandran's actions helped the BJP alliance. "The UDF should have won with a clear margin. Instead, Chandran’s political manoeuvres weakened Congress and caused the current crisis," they added. They warned that readmitting Chandran into Congress would silence them politically. "If Mr. Chandran is taken back, we will not be able to face the people again seeking votes," they said. They also accused Chandran of close ties with the BJP and claimed his group secured BJP support beforehand for the panchayat president election. "The resignation of Congress panchayat members was in line with BJP’s political interests," they charged. Despite the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s reconciliation efforts after the Mattathur election, these leaders said Chandran and his supporters operate with KPCC secretary Jose Valloor’s support and run a parallel DCC. Present at the press meet were Block Congress secretary Naushad Kalluparambil, former panchayat member Benny Thondankal, and Thangamani Mohan. They welcomed KPCC’s move to reinstate eight resigned panchayat members but demanded they step down from president and vice-president roles. A separate Congress delegation met MLA Rojy John, urging him to oppose readmitting Chandran and Shafi Kalluparambil into the party.