The buzz surrounding the Congress party’s chief ministerial (CM) candidate for the 2026 Kerala assembly elections continues to dominate political discourse despite strenuous efforts by the party’s Central and state leadership to curb speculation.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is aiming to make a comeback, but internal disagreements over leadership roles and the projection of a CM face have caused friction.
Senior leaders K Sudhakaran and P K Kurien have come out in public in support of former Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. Sudhakaran, who had publicly responded, during the seat-sharing discussion, by saying he would contest the assembly elections, was the one who started the debate over who would be the chief minister if the UDF wins . After that, P J Kurien also expressed his opinion openly.
Former KPCC president Sudhakaran, MP, has openly stated that he wants Ramesh Chennithala to become the chief minister if the UDF comes to power. He also said in an interview to the media that he would recommend Ramesh Chennithala for the post calling him a senior leader and a mature person. He clarified that he is recommending Ramesh Chennithala for the chief ministership if UDF gets the majority.
P J Kurien on Wednesday publicly said that Chennithala will become the chief minister if the UDF gets the majority in the Assembly. He made the statement while Chennithala was sitting on the stage at a UDF convention in Thiruvalla on Wednesday. “In any case, we will win when the results come and Ramesh will be the chief minister,” he asserted with confidence. “I have no doubt… Ramesh… will be the Chief Minister”.
However, Chennithala later made light of the statement, insisting that the party high command would decide who would be the CM once election results are out. He also said that the discussion about the chief minister’s post should not be raised now.
Satheesan sought to sidestep the direct “CM candidate” debate, asserting that the party does not fight elections by projecting a specific leader and that the high command would take a call on the chief minister’s post.
Rejecting the senior leader’s remark on the chief minister’s post, he clarified that this is all being said by individuals. There is no discussion on the top post in the Congress. The All India Congress Committee has a procedure where senior leaders have an understanding.
Satheesan clarified that what was done in Telangana and Karnataka will be done in Kerala after the elections.