Malappuram: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) Kerala unit has announced plans to field candidates in nearly 20,000 wards in the forthcoming local body elections and said that the party will contest alone without waiting for any alliance.

"We are entering the local body elections on our own, without waiting to associate with any parties or fronts in the state. There has been no meeting with the UDF about an alliance," TMC leader PV Anvar said.

District committees have been asked to finalise and submit candidate lists to the state leadership by the end of September. Party leaders said the move is part of a broader strategy to demonstrate local support and potentially open a "negotiation window" with the UDF ahead of next year's Assembly elections.

Anvar also launched a sharp attack on MLA KT Jaleel, criticising him for backing SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan's controversial remarks, which were aimed at the Muslim community and at Malappuram district. "No other left leader came forward to defend Natesan, but Jaleel did. He was once Higher Education Minister, what has he ever done for Malappuram?" Anvar asked.

He alleged that Natesan's comments reflected the stance of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and accused Jaleel of legitimising them. "Would Jaleel dare swear on the Quran that Natesan's words were not communal?" Anvar asked, adding that Jaleel's statements lacked credibility. Anvar also hit out at the UDF, accusing its senior leadership of failing to counter the CPI(M)'s attacks on Opposition Leader V D Satheesan.