A fierce internal tussle has broken out within the Indian National Congress in Kerala following the resounding victory of the United Democratic Front, even as the race to pick the next chief minister gathers momentum.
The Congress-led UDF stormed back to power with a sweeping mandate, winning 102 out of 140 seats, marking a historic comeback after a decade. In contrast, the Left Democratic Front suffered one of its worst defeats, managing just 35 seats.
However, celebrations have quickly given way to factional friction within the Congress, with a poster war breaking out among supporters of key contenders for the top post.
The battle for leadership has largely centred around three senior figures, V. D. Satheesan, K. C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, triggering a visible show of strength on the ground.
The poster campaign began soon after polling on April 9 and has since intensified. In a notable incident, posters praising Venugopal as the “architect of victory” were defaced with black paint in Kottayam. Similar displays backing him were also spotted outside the District Congress Committee office in Thiruvananthapuram.
Meanwhile, Satheesan has emerged as a strong claimant, credited with steering the party to one of its biggest electoral successes. With the numbers firmly in UDF’s favour, he is expected to press his case before the party high command. Grassroots workers have also voiced support for him across platforms.
Venugopal, on the other hand, is believed to enjoy backing from a section of MLAs, making the contest more complex. Adding another dimension, alliance partner Indian Union Muslim League has acknowledged the sentiments among Congress workers but has left the final decision to the leadership.
Chennithala remains firmly in the fray as well. His seniority, administrative experience, and wide acceptability across factions, along with strong ties to social and religious organisations, position him as a formidable contender.
The Congress has indicated that a decision on the chief ministerial face will be taken within a week. Until then, the power struggle within the party is expected to intensify, with more twists likely before Kerala gets its next chief minister.
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