Senior Congress leaders in Kerala insist that the AICC meeting on Friday will be a routine one, but undercurrents suggest it could be more than just a periodic review.
Published Feb 27, 2025 | 3:34 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 27, 2025 | 3:34 PM
KPCC president K Sudhakaran said he did not expect a leadership change in the state unit but added that he would abide by the high command's decision. Pictured, senior leaders Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, MM Hassan, KC Joseph, K Sudhakaran, VD Satheesan and KC Venugopal.
Synopsis: Party leaders in Kerala dismissed speculation of a leadership change in the state. The Congress, however, has to think ahead, considering the upcoming elections to local bodies and the state Assembly.
Speculation is rife in Kerala on the agenda of a crucial meeting of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), scheduled for Friday, 28 February.
While senior Congress leaders in Kerala insisted that the meeting would be a routine one, undercurrents suggested it could be more than just a periodic review.
Shashi Tharoor MP with Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi.
Among the key issues that may come up—though officially dismissed—is the controversy surrounding Shashi Tharoor, triggered by his recent article in an English daily and a podcast.
The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, who has often found himself at odds with sections of the state leadership, reportedly had a discussion with Rahul Gandhi, leading party insiders to term the issue a “closed chapter.”
However, given Tharoor’s growing influence and perceived national aspirations, any perceived sidelining of him will have implications within the Kerala unit.
What has further fuelled discussions ahead of the meeting is speculation about a leadership shake-up within the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
Ramesh Chennithala. (Supplied)
Party insiders suggested that a restructuring at both state and district levels could be on the agenda. KPCC President K Sudhakaran’s remarks on Wednesday added weight to these theories.
While asserting that no one from the AICC has asked him to step down, he also maintained that he would abide by any decision taken by the high command.
“If they ask me to step down, I will obey as a loyal and disciplined party worker,” he stated, leaving room for interpretation.
However, Leader of the Opposition and UDF Chairman V D Satheesan, on Thursday, categorically denied any discussions on leadership change.
He dismissed reports suggesting a crisis in the party, stating that the AICC meeting is routine and that the party’s primary focus remains on the upcoming local body elections. Satheesan said the recent by-election results have strengthened the UDF, while the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has suffered setbacks.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, too, downplayed the speculation, emphasising that the meeting is nothing out of the ordinary.
“To my knowledge, no discussions on leadership change have taken place within the party. The meeting on Friday is a routine one, which the AICC convenes when a state heads to polls within a year,” he said.
“A call on who will lead is the prerogative of the party high command, and once they take a decision, as responsible party workers, we are bound to obey,” the senior leader said.
Despite official denials, political observers noted that the Congress high command’s interventions in Kerala often signalled impending strategic shifts.
With local body elections approaching and the 2026 Assembly elections on the horizon, the AICC may be looking to realign its Kerala unit for better electoral prospects.
Whether Friday’s meeting remains a routine organizational exercise or sets the stage for major changes remains to be seen.
But for now, the Congress unit in Kerala finds itself in the spotlight, with leaders and cadres alike watching closely for any signs of a potential shake-up.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
