Congress caught in Kerala power tug-of-war as CM announcement remains elusive after poll sweep

More than a week after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) swept the Kerala Assembly polls with a commanding majority, the alliance is still waiting for clarity on who will lead the next government.

What was expected to be a smooth transition after the UDF’s emphatic return to power has now turned into a prolonged political wait, with the Congress high command continuing consultations in Delhi while competing camps within the party push their preferred candidates for the top post.

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The uncertainty has also triggered debate within Kerala Congress circles, where supporters of Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan believe his aggressive campaign against the second Pinarayi Vijayan government over the past five years has earned him the strongest claim to the chief minister’s chair. At the same time, AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal is understood to enjoy significant backing within the party leadership and among a large section of newly elected MLAs.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also remains in contention, with party insiders pointing to his organisational and administrative experience.

Another round of discussions is expected on Tuesday after former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was summoned by the high command for consultations.

Before leaving for Delhi, Radhakrishnan indicated that a decision could be nearing. “Things are coming to a close on the selection of the next CM,” he said.

Senior Congress leader MM Hassan also urged the leadership to end the uncertainty quickly.

“We all expect the name to be announced without further delay, as by now itself the time has elapsed,” Hassan said.

Also Read: Congress and the art of complicating simple issues: Will Kerala be another example?

Why Congress is struggling to finalise Kerala CM face

The delay has increasingly become a talking point beyond Congress circles, especially with questions being raised over whether a sitting Member of Parliament should be chosen to lead the Kerala government.

However, party leaders privately insist that such concerns are unlikely to influence the final decision. Congress insiders have pointed to instances such as Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who was serving as an MP before taking charge of the state, along with earlier examples of senior Union leaders moving to state politics.

Even as the high command weighs its options, supporters of Satheesan argue that he carries stronger grassroots support among ordinary Congress workers in Kerala, while Venugopal is widely viewed as the preferred choice of the central leadership and someone who enjoys the confidence of Rahul Gandhi.

BJP targets Congress over Kerala leadership delay

The BJP has, meanwhile, attacked the Congress over the continuing indecision.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked the party over the delay in naming a chief minister despite securing a clear majority in the 140-member Assembly.

“It seems the Congress party has made a plan to give five Chief Ministers in five years,” Poonawalla told ANI.

He also claimed that different Congress leaders were backing separate contenders for the post.

“In Keralam, the Congress has got a full majority. Even after so many days, the Congress party has not been able to decide who will be the Chief Minister,” he said.

Poonawalla further alleged that Congress was trying to bring a “model of instability” to Kerala, referring to political developments in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.

The Congress Legislature Party had earlier passed a one-line resolution authorising the party high command to take the final call on the chief ministerial candidate after consultations with MLAs and alliance partners.

The UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly in the recently concluded elections.