It has been reported that former Thrissur District Congress Vice President C.M. Anil Kumar has vowed to perform the ‘Thulabharam’ ritual at the Hemambika Temple in the name of AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal for his elevation as Kerala Chief Minister.
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The internal “tug-of-war” for the Chief Minister’s post within the Kerala Congress remains intense, despite the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) issuing multiple warnings and enforcing a strict ban on public self-projection. With the state Assembly election results scheduled for May 4, the power struggle has shifted from subtle lobbying to overt public campaigns.
It has been reported that former Thrissur District Congress Vice President C.M. Anil Kumar has vowed to perform the ‘Thulabharam’ ritual at the Hemambika Temple in the name of AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal for his elevation as Kerala Chief Minister.
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A Youth Congress leader has also reportedly made a similar vow to perform the ritual at the same temple for Venugopal’s elevation to the Chief Minister’s post following the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. The matter has gone viral on social media, adding fuel to the ongoing “CM race” discussions within the Congress-led UDF.
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‘Thulabharam’ is a common offering at temples, where a person is weighed against items such as sugar, bananas, or jaggery. The Hemambika Temple in Palakkad is known for its unique deity featuring upraised hands. It is said that Indira Gandhi chose the “Hand” as the official symbol of the Congress after visiting this temple, inspired by the deity’s posture.
Meanwhile, supporters have put up flex boards hailing VD Satheesan as the “designated Chief Minister.” Many of these boards carry phrases such as “Greetings to the designated Chief Minister.” Such displays have appeared in Muvattupuzha, Malappuram, Kannur, and Pazhayangadi.
In another development, a complaint has been filed with the KPCC President demanding the dismissal of KPCC Digital Media Coordinator Vimala Binu. Youth Congress Social Media Chairman Rajith Raveendran, in his complaint, alleged that Vimala Binu instructed that senior leaders be insulted online.
The complaint centers on leaked screenshots from a WhatsApp group, which allegedly show coordination of cyberattacks against senior party leaders. The purported screenshots suggest that Vimala Binu, considered a close aide of V.D. Satheesan, had directed online attacks against supporters of K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and K. Sudhakaran.
In response, Vimala Binu filed a formal complaint with the State Police Chief (DGP), claiming the screenshots are fake and part of a targeted campaign to defame her amid the leadership tussle.
In this context, Hibi Eden, the head of the KPCC Digital Media Cell, has offered to step down from his post. While he cited the conclusion of the elections as the reason, the move is widely seen as a reaction to the ongoing factional infighting.
Meanwhile, the KPCC on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to Thiruvananthapuram DCC General Secretary A. Prijin Babu for publishing a full-page newspaper advertisement highlighting Ramesh Chennithala’s political journey.
The notice, citing gross indiscipline, was issued after the full-page advertisement appeared, violating party directives against promoting specific leaders for leadership roles.
The feature appeared in an English daily amid the Congress’ internal dispute over the Chief Minister’s post. The KPCC described the advertisement as a “serious breach of party discipline.” However, Prijin Babu has claimed that he has carried out similar features on individuals in the past as well.
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