Amid an intensifying debate within the Congress over who should be the next Chief Minister of Kerala, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday imposed a strict ban on public statements by party leaders and workers regarding their preferred candidate for the top post, in the event of a UDF victory in the Assembly elections.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph directed party members to refrain from making comments in the media or on social platforms endorsing individuals for the Chief Minister’s post. The restriction applies to print, electronic, and social media, with the leadership citing embarrassment to the party and growing discontent among United Democratic Front (UDF) supporters.
The directive, effectively a “gag order,” warns that any violation will be treated as serious indiscipline. It bars all members—from senior leaders to grassroots workers—from expressing preferences in TV debates, press conferences, or personal social media posts, in a bid to project unity ahead of the election results.
The move comes after days of public sparring within the party. The debate was triggered soon after polling when Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Muhammed Shias suggested that the Chief Minister should be from Ernakulam, raising concerns among rival factions.
Senior leaders have since taken divergent positions. Former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran initially backed Ramesh Chennithala for the Chief Minister’s post, a view earlier echoed by veteran leader P. J. Kurien. However, Sudhakaran later shifted his stance to support K. C. Venugopal.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan has also emerged as a key contender, with supporters of all three leaders engaging in intense exchanges on social media. The situation escalated into what party insiders described as “cyber warfare,” including the circulation of a leaked WhatsApp group chat in which senior leaders were allegedly insulted.
Amid the controversy, Hibi Eden submitted a letter to the KPCC chief seeking to be relieved of his responsibilities as head of the party’s Digital Media Cell.
Senior Congress leaders such as K. Muralidharan and M. K. Raghavan have termed the ongoing debate “meaningless” and “needless,” warning that it damages the party’s image.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally in the UDF, has also expressed dissatisfaction, cautioning that such “immature” discussions could demoralise party workers ahead of counting day. IUML leader P. K. Kunhalikutty stated that the Chief Minister would be from the Congress as the largest UDF constituent, and that the final decision would be taken after considering public sentiment and consulting alliance partners.
He added that the IUML is not concerned with the ongoing debate over the Chief Ministerial candidate.