A high-stakes leadership battle has unfolded within the Indian National Congress in Kerala as internal consultations revealed strong backing for K. C. Venugopal in the race to become the state’s next Chief Minister.
According to party sources, a majority of Congress legislators who participated in the consultation process favoured Venugopal, although senior leaders V. D. Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala continue to remain important contenders for the top post.
MLA Preferences Reveal Clear Edge for Venugopal
Out of the 63 Congress MLAs elected to the Kerala Assembly, around 10 legislators reportedly left the final decision entirely to the party’s central leadership.
Among the remaining 53 MLAs who shared their preferences during discussions with party observers:
- 43 MLAs reportedly supported KC Venugopal
- 4 to 5 MLAs expressed support for both Venugopal and VD Satheesan
- 2 to 3 MLAs mentioned both Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala as preferred choices
The numbers indicate that Venugopal currently enjoys the strongest backing among newly elected Congress legislators, though no official announcement has yet been made by the party leadership.
Congress High Command Holds Final Authority
The final decision is now expected to rest with the Congress high command led by Mallikarjun Kharge.
Senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, who were appointed as observers for Kerala, completed meetings with MLAs, MPs and senior party leaders before submitting their report to Kharge in Delhi.
The two observers reportedly urged the central leadership to take the final call after assessing the feedback received from legislators and party functionaries.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Likely to Play Key Role
Sources within the Congress believe that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to have significant influence over the final selection process.
Priyanka Gandhi currently represents a parliamentary constituency from Kerala, while Rahul Gandhi previously served as MP from the state, giving both leaders strong political relevance in Kerala Congress affairs.
Satheesan Gains Public Support, Chennithala Still in Race
While Venugopal appears to hold an advantage among MLAs, party insiders say public sentiment within Congress supporters in Kerala appears more divided.
VD Satheesan, who served as Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly, is believed to enjoy substantial grassroots backing and public visibility across the state.
Meanwhile, veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also remains in contention and has reportedly been called for discussions with the party leadership before a final decision is announced.
UDF Returns to Power in Kerala
The leadership contest comes after the United Democratic Front staged a major comeback in Kerala.
The Congress won 63 seats on its own in the 140-member Assembly, while the UDF alliance secured a commanding majority with 102 seats, ending the previous government’s tenure and bringing the Congress-led alliance back to power in the state.
With multiple senior leaders in the race and intense lobbying underway in Delhi, the Congress high command is expected to announce its final decision on Kerala’s next Chief Minister in the coming days.
