With controversies swirling around Shashi Tharoor, murmurs of leadership changes, and internal rifts heating up, the Congress high command convened a crucial discussion at Indira Bhavan, in Delhi.
Published Mar 01, 2025 | 12:05 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 01, 2025 | 1:10 PM
While the Opposition Leader dismissed it as routine, akin to the party’s recent strategy talks with Assam leaders, the political landscape in Kerala made this gathering far more significant.
Synopsis: Amid internal tensions within the Kerala unit of Congress, the high command convened a crucial meeting in Delhi, reaffirming K Sudhakaran’s position as KPCC president and calling for unity. While speculations of leadership change and internal discord had been rife, Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, emphasised collective leadership and a focused strategy to challenge the ruling LDF.
Amidst tensions within the Kerala unit of Indian National Congress in recent weeks, the much-anticipated meeting of state leaders with Congress high command in Delhi on Friday, 28 February, put to rest widespread expectations and rumours of explosive changes.
With controversies swirling around Shashi Tharoor, murmurs of leadership changes, and internal rifts heating up, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and General Secretary KC Venugopal convened a crucial discussion at Indira Bhawan, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.
While the LoP had earlier dismissed speculation and termed it as routine, akin to the party’s recent strategy talks with Assam leaders, the political landscape in Kerala had made the gathering far more significant.
K Sudhakaran will remain as the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, as the meeting did not discuss any leadership change. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, in a joint press conference after the meeting, emphasised that the party will move forward with collective leadership.
He assured that the high command will maintain close supervision over Kerala and that the meeting ended with full confidence. The Congress party also resolved to strongly fight against the alleged misgovernance of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
The meeting, which lasted from 4pm to 6.30pm, conveyed a strong message of unity.
Leaders received reminders of their responsibility to ensure the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) victory in the upcoming local body and assembly elections.
The high command urged complete unity within the Congress and stated that the primary goal is to remove the LDF government. KC Venugopal also made it clear that no leader would be allowed to express dissenting views in the media, in view of the Shashi Tharoor controversy.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, during discussions with state leaders, stressed that Kerala needs a change in governance and assured that the party would make every possible effort to bring back the UDF to power.
He also stated that Kerala would reject anti-people and communal forces in the upcoming elections.
Before the discussions, amidst speculation of a leadership change, state Congress leaders Benny Behanan, Adoor Prakash, and Anto Antony met with Ramesh Chennithala and others at Kerala House, reportedly seeking their support for a potential candidacy for president.
Discussions among leaders took place in the rooms of MM Hassan and Ramesh Chennithala at Kerala House. Earlier, the trio’s names were predicted as the most probable choices for the next KPCC chief post.
Benny Behanan clarified that the KPCC president’s selection is not based on caste or religious considerations. Adoor Prakash left Kerala House without commenting to the media.
Meanwhile, addressing concerns over his leadership, Sudhakaran dismissed media reports of differences with state Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan.
He spoke emotionally at the meeting, stating that there was an attempt to isolate him and that no one defended him against narratives portraying him as weak.
He also criticised some leaders for making public statements that fueled speculations about his removal. Sudhakaran insisted that he had never acted against party unity and that he remains committed to leading KPCC.
Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor assured his commitment to the party. In recent weeks, speculation of his leaving the party for anywhere from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was rife.
The Congress leadership in Kerala has reaffirmed its commitment to reclaim power in the state, emphasising unity within the party and strong opposition to both the ruling LDF and the BJP.
During the meeting, senior figures, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, KPCC president K Sudhakaran, and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader VD Satheesan, deliberated on the party’s political roadmap.
Congress in-charge for Kerala affairs, Deepa Dasmunshi, stressed that the party stands united. She dismissed speculation of internal discord, asserting that all leaders had voiced their determination to defeat both the LDF and the BJP.
“The Congress leadership has made it clear that the party is deeply connected with the people of Kerala. The high command has given a firm message that we must respect this bond and ensure that our actions reflect the aspirations of the people,” Dasmunshi stated.
She also warned that any personal statements against the party’s collective stance would not be tolerated.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan reiterated the party’s primary goal of returning to power in 2026, criticising the current government’s performance. “This administration has failed on all fronts. The Congress is united, and we will work together to restore governance in Kerala,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala echoed similar sentiments, affirming that the party would stand as a cohesive force to secure victory in the upcoming elections.
Kharge, addressing the gathering, underscored the Congress’s historical role in shaping Kerala’s development and welfare model.
“Change is inevitable. Congress has built Kerala’s development paradigm, and we will do everything possible to bring the UDF back to power. Next year, the people will reject both the oppressive and communal fronts in the state,” he asserted.
Other prominent Congress leaders, including Chief Whip and MP K Suresh, MP Shashi Tharoor, former Rajya Sabha Deputy chairman PJ Kurien, and Kerala Mahila Congress president and MP Jebi Mather, also participated in the discussions, emphasising the party’s collective strength and strategy moving forward.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
