High Command in Control: Kharge to Decide Kerala CM Amid Internal Rivalry

The race for Kerala’s next Chief Minister has shifted decisively to the Congress high command in New Delhi after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday unanimously authorised party president Mallikarjun Kharge to take the final decision on leadership. The move comes in the backdrop of a decisive electoral victory for the Congress-led alliance, but also amid emerging internal competition over the top post.

The CLP meeting, held in Thiruvananthapuram, followed formal procedures with state Congress chief Sunny Joseph moving a one-line resolution authorising Kharge, which was seconded by Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan and passed unanimously. While the decision projected unity on the surface, it effectively transferred the power to decide the Chief Ministerial face to the party’s central leadership, setting the stage for intense political negotiations.

Behind this formal unity, however, a three-way contest has emerged within the party. V.D. Satheesan, who has led the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly for the past five years, is seen as having strong public backing. K.C. Venugopal, AICC General Secretary, is reportedly supported by several MLAs and enjoys organisational backing. Meanwhile, senior leader Ramesh Chennithala remains a contender with deep roots in the state’s political structure.

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Congress observers Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik, and Deepa Das Munshi held one-on-one discussions with newly elected MLAs to assess internal preferences before submitting their report to the high command. According to party sources, Satheesan has emerged as a popular public choice, especially after Congress workers organised torchlight marches in multiple districts including Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam, demanding his elevation as Chief Minister.

Despite this visible support, internal equations within the legislature party appear to favour K.C. Venugopal, whose proximity to the central leadership and organisational influence are seen as significant advantages. Sources suggest that a section of newly elected MLAs and senior state leaders have quietly backed his candidature, strengthening his position in the internal race for the top post.

Adding further complexity, veteran leader A.K. Antony is believed to have expressed support for Ramesh Chennithala, citing his seniority and administrative experience. Senior leader V.M. Sudheeran has also reportedly endorsed Chennithala’s claim. With multiple claimants and competing considerations of popularity, experience, and organisational strength, the Congress high command now faces a crucial decision in balancing internal equations while selecting Kerala’s next Chief Minister.

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