Senior Congress leader and former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Mullappally Ramachandran said factionalism and poor candidate selection caused the party’s failure in the 2020 three-tier local body elections. "Many candidates were selected by faction leaders, often without local consultation," he told The Hindu. "Being at the helm of the party and in the midst of the elections, I could not air my views or enforce my decisions. It was extremely embarrassing." He stressed that candidate choices must not be left to individual whims. Ramachandran noted that voter anger against the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) remains high due to corruption, financial mismanagement, and arrogance. He also said several local bodies failed to provide basic services, and the state government even denied allocated funds. He underlined Congress’s vision to empower local governance based on decentralization and proper government support, referencing the Panchayat and Nagarapalika Act of 1993. Addressing party differences, he said internal disputes sap grassroots workers’ energy and leaders should be careful. On choosing the next Chief Minister candidate, he said the decision would follow Congress’s long-time procedure at the proper time. On his political ambitions, Ramachandran said, "Power has never been a lure for me. And, age is only a state of mind." He recalled Congress’s tradition of balancing experienced leaders with youth, starting from Jawaharlal Nehru’s era. He praised the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) as a "trustworthy partner" in north Kerala and dismissed rumors of IUML gaining dominance in the coalition. Concerned about youth political apathy, he urged young people to remember, "Politics ultimately shapes governance and the country’s destiny." He cited his initiatives as KPCC chief that increased youth and women’s involvement, mentioning the ‘My booth, My pride’ program which appointed 25,000 women booth vice-presidents. Finally, Ramachandran warned against the return of communal and religious politics in Kerala. "In an enlightened State like Kerala, this pernicious trend must be checked," he said, adding that Congress works to protect all communities’ interests.