Published May 08, 2026 | 2:03 PM ⚊ Updated May 08, 2026 | 2:03 PM
VD Satheesan , KC Venugopal
Synopsis: Following the UDF’s victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Kerala, an internal conflict is brewing within the Congress over the choice of the state’s next chief minister. While reports indicate that a majority of the MLA-elects prefer KC Venugopal, public sentiment appears to favour VD Satheesan. Meanwhile, AICC leaders have indicated that the party has a certain set of guidelines for choosing the chief minister.
In Kerala’s capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, hundreds of flashing cameras, journalists and party workers crowded outside the Congress state headquarters as All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer Mukul Wasnik walked out after crucial meetings with the 63 soon-to-be-sworn-in legislators of the Congress.
Amid the rush, a paper reportedly showing support preferences of the legislators was caught in a camera flash and quickly became the centre of political discussion in Kerala.
At the same time, in Delhi, Congress high command discussions reportedly focused on the idea of a “parachute CM” and the possible vacuum in the party’s national leadership if KC Venugopal shifts his full attention to Kerala politics. Venugopal is believed to have the support of most soon-to-be-sworn-in legislators in the Chief Ministerial race.
While organisational support within the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is said to favour Venugopal, growing public support for VD Satheesan and resistance to the idea of a “High command-imposed” chief minister have emerged as key factors before the party leadership.
According to Congress sources, several senior leaders believe Kerala should not have a “parachute CM” — one directly “appointed by the high command” rather than someone who received the people’s mandate — at a time when the party has returned to power after 10 years in Opposition.
They argue that the UDF victory was largely built around Satheesan’s leadership and campaign strategy over the past five years, making him the natural political face of the mandate.
At the same time, sections within the party fear that shifting Venugopal from Delhi to Kerala could weaken the Congress organisation nationally, especially ahead of key elections in states like Punjab.
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The photo published by TNIE.
The leadership debate intensified after the leaked document surfaced, and many believe the leak did not happen accidentally, especially from a senior leader like Mukul Wasnik. The photo published by The New Indian Express, photographed by BP Deepu, carried handwritten notations beside the names of soon-to-be-sworn-in legislators, indicating support for contenders in the Chief Ministerial race.
The leaked image showed strong support for Venugopal.
MLA-elects, including Sunny Joseph, Sandeep G Varier, Sajeev Joseph, TO Mohanan, T Siddique and Usha Vijayan, were reportedly marked in support of Venugopal. Later, Sandeep G Varier, who responded to the media, did not deny the report.
Nearly two-thirds of the soon-to-be-sworn-in legislators are reportedly backing Venugopal.
However, Sunny Joseph dismissed the circulating images as misleading and denied taking sides in the leadership battle.
Speaking to the media in Kerala, he clarified that the leaked images were merely photographs of documents handled by AICC observers and should not be interpreted as evidence of who supports whom.
However, his comment, “Politics is the game of numbers”, hinted at the importance of numerical backing in the contest. He underlined that the support of legislators remains the most significant factor in the chief minister selection process and urged party workers to avoid public flex campaigns, social media propaganda, and demonstrations backing individual CM race contenders.
Shashi Tharoor, Mallikarjun Kharge
On Thursday, AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held detailed one-on-one discussions with all 63 newly elected, soon-to-be-sworn-in legislators to assess their preferences on the leadership issue, and the report was submitted to the high command on Friday Morning.
Following the consultations, the CLP unanimously passed a resolution authorising Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to appoint the CLP leader, who will become Kerala’s next chief minister.
The observers also held discussions with leaders of UDF ally parties before preparing their report for the high command.
However, a surprise development took place amid the discussions.
Just hours before the observers submitted their final report to the high command, senior leader and Shashi Tharoor met Mallikarjun Kharge. After the meeting, he shared pictures on his X account and reportedly explained the ground reality in Kerala regarding the chief minister discussions. However, he did not reveal whom he was backing.
Speaking to South First, a senior Congress leader criticised the idea of a “parachute CM” for Kerala and made it clear that the high command had not approved any MP to contest the Assembly election, including Venugopal. “Many MPs wanted to contest the Assembly elections. If that was not allowed earlier, how can Venugopal be considered now?” the leader asked.
However, people close to Tharoor told South First that there was nothing unusual about his meeting with Kharge. They said Tharoor met Kharge in his capacity as a member of the Congress Working Committee, as he was unable to meet the AICC observers in Kerala.
Meanwhile, along with the IUML, the Kerala Congress (Joseph) and other allies have now openly extended support to Satheesan in the Chief Ministerial race.
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Congress worker Francis from Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam poured petrol on his body
Even as support numbers among soon-to-be-sworn-in legislators appear to favour Venugopal, supporters of Satheesan argue that public sentiment cannot be ignored after the Congress-led UDF’s sweeping victory in Kerala.
For the first time in Kerala’s recent political history, the Congress leadership debate has triggered emotional protests, suicide threats and open pressure campaigns from party workers demanding that Satheesan be appointed chief minister.
Across several districts, including Kannur, Kozhikode and Idukki, Congress workers have intensified demonstrations and social media campaigns in support of Satheesan. At the same time, flex boards supporting Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala have also appeared in several places, reflecting growing factional mobilisation within the party.
In one of the most dramatic incidents, a Congress worker identified as Francis from Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam poured petrol on his body and threatened suicide while demanding that Satheesan be made Chief Minister.
Within the Congress, many leaders credit Satheesan with rebuilding the party after successive defeats in the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections. Since becoming Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, he has been widely seen as the architect of the UDF’s political revival, leading aggressive campaigns against the LDF government and steering the alliance through major electoral victories, including the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the 2025 local body elections and the Assembly election.
A Congress worker close to Satheesan told South First that if he is denied the chief minister post, he may refuse to accept any other position and continue only as an MLA on the Assembly floor, a move supporters fear could deepen internal divisions and spark further conflict within the party.
DK Shivakumar, Sachin Pilot
Speaking to South First JS Adoor, chief of the Public Policy Cell of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), said the Congress has a clear mechanism for appointing a chief minister and that the decision is not based on “social media algorithms, PR campaigns or street stunts”.
“AICC observers have already met all 63 soon-to-be-sworn-in legislators. They also held discussions with Congress MPs, senior leaders such as AK Antony and people like me. A wide consultation process has already taken place. The final decision is expected by Sunday evening or Monday morning,” he said.
Adoor added that such public sentiment and leadership debates are not new to the Congress party.
“In Kerala, such sentiments have existed since the period of PT Chacko itself. More recently, we witnessed similar situations in Rajasthan and Karnataka, where leaders like DK Shivakumar and Sachin Pilot were seen as strong contenders, but senior leaders eventually took the position. Even Sonia Gandhi was the preferred choice of many for Prime Minister, yet Manmohan Singh beautifully handled the role. This is usual in Congress. The party has a structured procedure to elect a CM or PM,” he said.
When asked whether Satheesan would remain loyal to the party if another leader were chosen, similar to the situations involving DK Shivakumar or Sachin Pilot, JS Adoor replied,
“Why not? Everyone is loyal to Congress. The loyalties of legislators are not a major issue; such dynamics change over time, and that is natural in politics. This is not a serious concern. Why can’t the party accommodate more than one leader through positions like Deputy Chief Minister? Then these discussions will end. This issue will be settled within a few hours. The Congress high command’s decision will be fair and just,” he told South First.
He also hinted at the high command’s possible concerns over by-election risks as well as the broader implications for the party’s national leadership structure.
Sources indicate that the announcement of Kerala’s next chief minister could come over the weekend, with the swearing-in ceremony expected shortly afterwards.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
