KPCC chief leaves door open for KC Venugopal as Kerala CM; dismisses ‘fake letter’ row

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Sunny Joseph has not ruled out the possibility of All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary KC Venugopal becoming the Chief Minister of Kerala if the United Democratic Front (UDF) wins the 2026 Assembly elections.

Speaking to media persons in Kannur on Sunday, Sunny Joseph said that if the party leadership decides on a candidate, everyone will accept it, suggesting that Venugopal is a viable contender.

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Responding to a query on whether there is a possibility of someone outside the MLAs becoming the Chief Minister if the UDF secures a majority in the Assembly polls, the KPCC chief said that if a suitable decision is made after due consultation, everyone will accept it.

When specifically asked if someone not currently an MLA could become Chief Minister, Joseph did not rule out Venugopal, noting that if the party decides on his name, everyone will accept it.

With this, Sunny Joseph has indicated that K.C. Venugopal is among the top leadership contenders, citing his prominence in the party, while noting that the final decision rests with the high command.

The KPCC chief also clarified that the UDF does not intend to create a Deputy Chief Minister’s post, despite past speculation or demands from ally parties such as the IUML. He expressed strong confidence that the UDF would perform strongly in the Assembly elections, predicting victory in over 100 seats.

He categorically denied writing a letter targeting former KPCC chief K. Sudhakaran, calling it a fake document manufactured by political opponents. Sunny Joseph stated that he neither created nor sent any such letter, describing it as a conspiracy to create confusion.

A letter purportedly written by Sunny Joseph on official KPCC letterhead to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge had surfaced on social media, questioning K. Sudhakaran’s electoral prospects in the Kannur Assembly constituency and backing another candidate, T.O. Mohanan.

He challenged those spreading the allegations to come forward with evidence that he wrote the letter against Sudhakaran.

Sunny Joseph said that he had filed a complaint with the Director General of Police (DGP), the District Collector, and the Chief Electoral Officer, demanding a thorough investigation into the fabricated letter. He compared the incident to the earlier “Kafir screenshot” controversy in Vadakara, describing it as a “lie bomb” aimed at damaging the Congress party.