What began as a moment of celebration following the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)'s historic victory in the Kerala Assembly elections has rapidly descended into open factional warfare. Supporters of the three Chief Ministerial aspirants have taken their battle from closed-door discussions to the streets of Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Thrissur, and Malappuram, with public protests and coordinated social media campaigns now threatening to overshadow the UDF's landmark mandate.

How Venugopal's Entry Upended the Race

Until recently, the contest for Kerala's top post was widely seen as a two-way race between V. D. Satheesan, who spearheaded the UDF's election campaign, and veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala. The sudden emergence of Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal — the Alappuzha Member of Parliament and one of the closest associates of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi — as a serious contender has sharply altered the political atmosphere within the party.

Venugopal's late entry has triggered intense resistance from sections of the Kerala Congress. Opponents within the party have also raised questions about his decision to vacate his Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan to contest the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency — a move that critics argue ultimately allowed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to claim that Rajya Sabha seat. They contend his push for the Chief Ministerial post has upset the political balance within the state unit at a critical juncture.

Protests on the Streets

On Friday, angry supporters of Satheesan marched through the streets in Kannur, Thrissur, Malappuram, and Thiruvananthapuram, raising slogans demanding 'justice for Satheesan' and insisting that the architect of the UDF's electoral victory deserves the Chief Minister's post. In the state capital, protestors marching towards the seat of power were seen tearing down posters of Venugopal — a stark visual indicator of the depth of divisions within rival camps.

Social media platforms have been flooded with posts from Congress workers and sympathisers arguing that Satheesan, having led the party's ground campaign against the Left government, should be rewarded with the top post. Many within the party warn that replacing him at this stage could alienate the cadres who worked under his leadership during the election.

High Command Steps In

Amid mounting tensions, All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik on Friday submitted their report to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge after conducting consultations with the 63 Congress MLAs, senior leaders, and alliance partners. According to sources, the observers did not recommend any single name but instead placed the full political assessment before the high command, leaving the final decision to the party leadership.

Sensing the growing unease, Satheesan himself appealed for restraint through a social media post, urging party workers to avoid factional demonstrations and flex campaigns that could damage the party's image. Despite the appeal, the demonstrations continued, underscoring how difficult it has become for the leadership to contain the factionalism.

The Stakes for Congress

The public wrangling is particularly embarrassing for the Congress because it comes immediately after the UDF scripted one of the biggest victories in Kerala's political history, winning 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly. The initial euphoria surrounding the massive mandate has given way to bitter infighting, with supporters openly campaigning for their respective leaders through hoardings, flex boards, and coordinated social media activity. Notably, this is not the first time a Congress victory in Kerala has been followed by a protracted CM selection battle — but the scale and speed of the public fallout this time is striking.

With the AICC report now before Kharge, the high command faces the challenge of making a decision that holds the coalition together without alienating the cadres who delivered the historic win.