Poll results a fortnight away, power tussle brews in Congress over Kerala CM face

The conversation has begun quietly, almost cautiously, in the corridors of the Indian National Congress in Kerala. Throughout the election campaign, party leaders maintained a studied silence on the question that always simmers beneath the surface of a potential victory: Who would be chief minister? The official line was simple. The high command would decide.

But in the days after polling concluded, that silence gave way to a surge of voices, many of them not from within formal party structures. Social media became the first arena where the question was openly debated. From ordinary Congress workers to district-level functionaries, posts began circulating with unusual clarity. Many did not just speculate; they endorsed.

Sudhakaran’s post

Soon, even senior leaders were being drawn into the conversation. Former KPCC president K Sudhakaran, who had until recently been seen leaning towards other camps, began weighing in more openly. His statements, measured but pointed, signalled that the question of leadership was no longer abstract. It was immediate, and it was political.

Also read: KPCC chief Sunny Joseph urges Congress leaders to stay mum on CM face

“Leaders like (KC) Venugopal are the strength of a movement. Their style of functioning and sincerity shape the future. Just as he strengthens the national leadership, may KC Venugopal rise as a leader who can inspire the people and workers of Kerala, provide clear direction to the Congress and the UDF, and guide tomorrow’s governance,” read a Facebook post by Sudhakaran, which drew sharp opposition from VD Satheesan loyalists. The comment section was later locked.

Increased visibility

For years, Venugopal has been the organiser who works behind the scenes—the link between the Kerala unit and the national leadership. During this election, that role expanded. Candidate coordination, crisis handling, messaging discipline—his imprint was visible across the campaign. Workers across districts began to speak of a leadership presence that was firm but not overbearing, centralised yet accessible.

That perception was not accidental.

During the final phase of the campaign, a parallel effort quietly took shape in the digital space. Several Malayalam social media influencers were approached by agencies with a clear brief. The task was not crude propaganda. It was narrative building. The content was to be framed around specific themes: Venugopal as the leader whose maturity had united a faction-ridden Congress in Kerala.

Unease among leaders

Senior leaders, including K Muraleedharan and Benny Behanan, began to express unease, publicly criticising the growing chatter around the chief minister’s post, calling it premature and unnecessary before the results were even declared.

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From the very beginning of the campaign, Satheesan had been moving with visible caution. As Leader of the Opposition, he positioned himself at the centre of the electoral battle, taking full responsibility for the outcome. In a striking political gesture, he even declared that he would accept political exile if the results went against the party. It was a high-risk strategy, one that tied his personal credibility directly to the performance of the Congress.

Ramesh Chennithala, on the other hand, approached the question more openly. He did not shy away from expressing his desire to become chief minister, while carefully adding that the final decision rested with the high command. His was a familiar Congress approach, assertive yet deferential, keeping ambition visible but within organisational discipline.

“This controversy is pointless and absurd. I am not part of any such endorsements for anyone, including myself. It will only demoralise workers who are waiting for a UDF victory and have worked tirelessly for it,” Ramesh Chennithala told the media after the discussions spiralled following Sudhakaran’s public statement.

Consolidating influence from within

However, Venugopal’s approach stood in sharp contrast.

He has not contested the election. In the early stages, his name figured only as a possible compromise candidate, someone who could be considered if factional equations made it difficult for either Satheesan or Chennithala to secure consensus. It was a limited, almost contingency based role. But as the campaign progressed, that equation began to shift.

Also read: Kerala polls: Congress upbeat, Left cautious, but key lies with swing seats

Without formally entering the race, Venugopal started consolidating influence from within. His proximity to the national leadership, his control over organisational levers, and his growing acceptability among different factions began to change perceptions.

Venugopal’s apparent indifference

However, while Venugopal has brushed aside questions on the matter in Delhi, he has stopped short of ruling out the possibility, a shift from his stance in the run-up to the elections.

“I have no interest in discussions about who will become chief minister in Kerala. At a time when the country is facing the serious issue of the Delimitation Bill, which has far-reaching implications for democracy, such debates are not appropriate. The Congress will decide on the chief minister after the results are announced on the fourth of May,” said Venugopal.

“In our party, anything is possible. Venugopal played a significant role in the election campaign and handled much of the behind-the-scenes work to keep disgruntled sections calm. That is a fact. I wouldn’t be surprised if he emerges as the chief ministerial choice and contests from the Irikkur seat. I’m sure even the sitting MLA, if he wins, would be more than willing to resign. That much is evident from Sudhakaran’s statement,” said a Congress leader from Kannur.

Dual positioning

What made the shift more intriguing was the dual nature of his positioning. Publicly, Venugopal maintained that he was not in the fray. He repeated this more than once, reinforcing the official line and avoiding any direct claim.

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At the same time, his supporters began to move with increasing confidence.

Unlike the cautious signalling seen earlier, sections aligned with Venugopal started openly pushing his name. The campaign, both online and within party circles, has acquired a sharper edge. It is no longer about keeping an option open. It is about building a case.

Internal equations changing?

Within the state unit, established power centres have started recalibrating. The camp around Satheesan views the developments with caution. As the face of the Assembly and a central figure in the campaign, his claim rests on electoral leadership. The projection of a chief ministerial face who has not contested raises uncomfortable questions within his camp.

Chennithala’s camp, while more restrained in public, is also watching the developments closely. The balance that once seemed predictable is now clearly in flux.

This is where Sudhakaran’s positioning becomes significant. Known for his ability to read the organisational pulse, his gradual alignment with Venugopal indicates more than personal preference. It suggests a recognition of where momentum is building. Sudhakaran’s evolving stance is being read by many as a signal that internal equations are changing faster than expected.

Narratives being shaped

Sections of the party remain uncomfortable with the optics of leadership emerging outside the electoral arena. Yet, the counter-argument has been gaining ground. Leadership, supporters argue, is not confined to electoral participation. It is about the ability to hold the organisation together, to command trust across factions, and to maintain a working relationship with the national leadership.

Also read: Contrasting claims in Kerala: UDF talks wave; LDF counts on strongholds

As the party waits for results, the official position remains unchanged—the high command will decide; MLAs will be consulted; due process will be followed. But in WhatsApp groups, Facebook posts, and closed-door conversations, positions are being tested. Support is being counted quietly. Narratives are already being shaped in real time.