The announcement has triggered open rebellion within the party, with a section of senior leaders, and office-bearers quitting Twenty20 and joining the Congress.
Published Jan 23, 2026 | 6:25 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 23, 2026 | 6:25 PM
Twenty20 chief coordinator Sabu M Jacob meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Synopsis: Those who left, including leader Razina Pareeth, alleged that the decision to align with the NDA was taken unilaterally by a handful of leaders, without the knowledge or consent of the parliamentary board, ward committees or people’s representatives.
Twenty20, the Anna–Kitex Group-backed political party is facing a major internal crisis following its decision to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Twenty20’s entry into the NDA was announced on Thursday, 22 January, marking a significant shift in Kerala’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Backed by the Anna–Kitex Group, Twenty20 rose to prominence by disrupting traditional political equations in parts of Ernakulam district and positioning itself as an alternative to both the Left and the Congress-led fronts.
The new alliance signals the NDA’s renewed push to expand its footprint in Kerala, with Twenty20 expected to play a key role in that strategy.
The announcement has triggered open rebellion within the party, with a section of senior leaders, and office-bearers quitting Twenty20 and joining the Congress.
Those who left, including leader Razina Pareeth, alleged that the decision to align with the NDA was taken unilaterally by a handful of leaders, without the knowledge or consent of the parliamentary board, ward committees or people’s representatives.
They claimed that most leaders came to know about the merger only through television reports.
The dissidents accused Twenty20 of abandoning its core political promise.
The party had repeatedly declared that it would not join either the Left or Right fronts and had earlier stated that if it ever decided to merge, the organisation itself would be dissolved. “Instead, Twenty20 has now become a recruitment agency of the BJP, deceiving the people who voted for it,” the leaders alleged.
Serious allegations were also raised regarding surveys conducted by the party in the name of providing subsidies. The leaders claimed that the surveys were carried out with a hidden agenda, collecting information on caste and religion by misleading people into believing that they would receive welfare benefits.
Congress leader VP Sajeendran alleged that the findings of such a survey in the Kunnadu constituency were later shared with the BJP.
The leaders who joined the Congress further accused party president Sabu Jacob of running Twenty20 in an authoritarian manner, denying freedom of expression and centralising all decisions.
They alleged that the NDA tie-up was motivated by the need to protect Jacob’s business interests rather than public welfare.
Warning of more resignations, the leaders said the NDA alliance would mark the political decline of Twenty20 and Sabu.
Earlier in the day, Sabu M Jacob met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister later described the interaction as a “wonderful meeting” and publicly welcomed Twenty20 into the NDA fold.
“Had a wonderful meeting with Sabu M. Jacob in Thiruvananthapuram. I warmly welcome Twenty20 to the NDA family. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to transparent, people-centric governance,” Modi said.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
