Kerala’s Chief Minister Drama: Is Congress Turning a Historic Victory Into a Political Warning Signal?

More than 10 days after the massive victory of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, the biggest question still remains unanswered — who will become the next Chief Minister? The shocking part is not just the delay. It is the open power struggle happening inside the party while the people who voted for change are watching in confusion.

The Congress high command, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and the AICC leadership, have reportedly held multiple rounds of discussions, consultations, and lobbying meetings in Delhi. Yet no final name has emerged.

Three major power centers are now clearly visible inside the Kerala Congress:

• K. C. Venugopal camp
• Ramesh Chennithala camp
• V. D. Satheesan camp

And each faction believes it has the moral, political, and organizational right to take control of Kerala.

The K. C. Venugopal Camp: Delhi’s Trusted Operator

Inside Congress circles, K. C. Venugopal is increasingly being seen as the “high command candidate.” His biggest strength is not mass popularity in Kerala, but his unmatched influence in Delhi politics and organizational control within the Congress structure.

Reports and internal discussions suggest that several newly elected MLAs and organizational leaders are leaning toward Venugopal because they believe he has direct access to the national leadership and can bring stability between Kerala and Delhi.

Leaders and sections reportedly seen favoring Venugopal include:

• A section of newly elected Congress MLAs
• Leaders close to the AICC organizational structure
• Congress leaders who prefer strong coordination with Delhi
• Younger leaders who believe a “Delhi-backed CM” can protect the government from factional sabotage

There are also whispers that some leaders support Venugopal quietly instead of publicly because they fear backlash from local factions.

But there is another side to this story.

Many grassroots workers reportedly feel Venugopal is more of a Delhi strategist than a Kerala mass leader. Social media reactions and internal murmurs show concerns that the high command may be trying to “impose” a leader rather than respecting local sentiment.

The Ramesh Chennithala Camp: Experience and Seniority

Ramesh Chennithala’s supporters argue that seniority and long political experience cannot simply be ignored after decades of loyalty to the Congress party.

His camp reportedly includes:

• Traditional Congress seniors
• Old-guard organizational leaders
• Veteran district-level Congress networks
• Leaders who believe Kerala needs an experienced administrator after years of LDF rule

Many in this camp believe Chennithala was sidelined once before when Satheesan became Opposition Leader. According to them, denying him the CM post again could deepen internal resentment for years.

The emotional argument inside this faction is simple: “If not now, then when?”

The Satheesan Wave: The Public-Facing Winner

Among ordinary Congress workers and many UDF supporters, V. D. Satheesan appears to have the strongest public momentum right now.

Why?

Because he was the face of the anti-LDF campaign. He led the opposition aggressively, attacked the government consistently, and projected himself as the alternative leader for Kerala.

Several reports also indicate that sections of the Indian Union Muslim League strongly favor Satheesan.

People reportedly backing Satheesan include:

• Youth Congress sections
• A large number of grassroots workers
• IUML sympathizers and leaders
• Leaders who believe the electoral victory was built around Satheesan’s image

However, this support has also created problems.

Inside Congress, some fear that openly accepting IUML-backed pressure could give political ammunition to rivals, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has repeatedly accused Congress of minority appeasement.

The Bigger Question: Why Is Congress Struggling So Much After Winning?

This is the most dangerous part of the entire situation.

The UDF did not just win the election. It crushed the LDF with a massive mandate.

Yet instead of celebrations, Kerala is witnessing uncertainty, memes, criticism, and growing public frustration. Even allies have started openly expressing discomfort over the delay.

The message going out to the public is troubling:

If a party cannot decide its leader even after 10+ days of closed-door meetings, consultations, and lobbying, how smoothly can it run a government during real crises?

This is no longer just about one chair.

It is becoming a test of whether Congress can handle power without collapsing into internal camps.

The irony is almost cinematic.

After fighting for years against allegations of centralized decision-making, Congress itself is now waiting for Delhi to decide Kerala’s future.

Meanwhile, ordinary Malayalis are watching one simple reality unfold:

The people gave a clear mandate.
The politicians are still negotiating ownership of that mandate.

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