In a move that has deepened divisions within Kerala's Congress ecosystem, Youth Congress state president O.J. Janeesh and working president Binu Chulliyil are set to assume office on October 23, 2025, despite vehement opposition from senior leader Ramesh Chennithala. The appointments, announced earlier this month, bypassed Chennithala-backed Abin Varkey—who clinched the second-highest votes in the state president election—highlighting escalating tensions between traditional factions and emerging power blocs.

The delay in the new leaders' takeover, initially attributed to internal consultations, was officially linked to awaiting the conclusion of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) Sabarimala Viswasa Samrakshana Yatra. A Youth Congress spokesperson dismissed any ties to organizational discord, emphasizing that the timing aligned with key party events. The induction ceremony will occur under the auspices of KPCC president Sunny Joseph, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and national Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib, underscoring the strategic alliances bolstering the new setup.

At the heart of the controversy lies the influence of the Shafi Parambil-K.C. Venugopal axis, which secured key endorsements from Joseph and Satheesan to install their preferred candidates. Janeesh, a staunch Parambil loyalist, was elevated to the presidency following Chennithala's resistance to alternative proposals, while a new working president position was crafted to accommodate Chulliyil, a Venugopal ally. Party insiders revealed that Chulliyil's selection followed deliberations with the election wing, countering claims of impropriety; he had previously served as an elected general secretary under Parambil and was advised against contesting the last election due to group contest restrictions.

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Defending the process, office-bearers noted precedents for such nominations, citing the inclusion of Varkey and Rahul Mamkootathil in prior committees without electoral bids. The KC group also clarified that 'A' group nominee K.M. Abhijith was ineligible for the top role owing to his non-membership in Youth Congress bodies. They further asserted the national leadership's prerogative to restructure state committees, pointing to similar interventions in four other states where national secretaries were appointed presidents. Allegations that the prior committee retained a year's mandate were deemed inaccurate, as national oversight prevails.

Chennithala's 'I' group views the reshuffle as a deliberate marginalization, with Varkey's reassignment to a national secretary post perceived as a demotion. This development signals the waning clout of legacy factions like the 'A' and 'I' groups, supplanted by Venugopal's rising dominance in feeder organizations. Social media backlash and whispers of resignations from disgruntled ranks underscore the fragility of party unity, especially as Kerala gears up for local body polls and assembly elections. With the Youth Congress pivotal to grassroots mobilization, this feud could hinder the opposition's broader revival efforts against the ruling LDF.

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