Thiruvananthapuram, April 17 (NationPress) A growing power struggle within the Congress party regarding the Chief Minister's position is overshadowing the UDF coalition in Kerala, leading to concerns among allies and increased scrutiny from the party's top brass.

This internal discord, emerging just ahead of the Assembly election results scheduled for May 4, has caused unease within the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a crucial ally of the UDF.

Leaders from the League reportedly express dissatisfaction with the public disagreements, perceiving them as detrimental to the coalition's reputation.

Senior party members believe that the controversy has been exacerbated by open remarks and subtle campaigns from the Congress leadership itself.

There is also an initiative within the League to request intervention from the high command if the public disputes persist.

At present, the League has opted for a neutral stance, declaring it will voice its opinion only when formally consulted by the Congress.

Among the Congress ranks, prominent figures such as V.D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, and K.C. Venugopal have emerged as key contenders for the CM role.

Supporters of these individuals have already engaged in an intense battle of posters and comments on social media, a trend that senior leaders warn could tarnish the party's image.

Veteran Congress MP M.K. Raghavan criticized the situation, labeling it peculiar that the debate began in Ernakulam, where the district party president initially raised the topic.

He deemed the discussion unnecessary at this time, particularly with the vote count approaching.

Concerned about the escalating tensions, the Congress high command has intervened.

Party president Mallikarjuna Kharge has conducted phone consultations with senior leaders in Kerala to gauge the current climate.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has issued strict directives prohibiting public commentary on the Chief Minister's position until the results are made public.

Both KPCC president Sunny Joseph and AICC general secretary for Kerala, Deepa Das Munshi, have reiterated this directive.

Yet, signs suggest that informal talks and lobbying efforts are already underway, even among leaders in Delhi.

However, the central leadership has made it clear that no actions should be taken that contradict the high command’s ultimate decision.

Following the results announcement, representatives from the high command are expected to travel to Kerala to gather insights from the newly elected MLAs.

The final decision regarding the Chief Minister will be made only after this consultative process, highlighting the leadership's aim to mitigate factionalism and project unity at this critical political moment.

On Friday, Chennithala’s presence in the national capital drew attention, and he quickly clarified that his visit should not be associated with the social media dispute concerning the next chief minister.