BJP mocks Congress over Kerala CM delay: 'Can't find him even with binoculars'
Synopsis
Nine days after the Congress-led UDF swept Kerala with 102 of 140 seats, the party still hasn't named a Chief Minister — and the BJP is making it a national punchline. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla's 'binoculars' jibe captures a real political vulnerability: a party that won big but can't agree on who leads.
Key Takeaways
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked Congress on Wednesday over its failure to name a Kerala Chief Minister nine days after the election result.
Congress-led UDF won 102 of 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly, ending 10 years of LDF rule.
Three contenders are in the running: K.C.
Venugopal , Ramesh Chennithala , and V.D.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held over three hours of consultations in New Delhi on Saturday without a final decision.
BJP won 3 seats in Kerala — Nemom , Kazhakuttam , and Chathannoor .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress (Congress) over its prolonged delay in naming a Chief Minister for Kerala, saying the party was mired in "confusion" despite winning a decisive mandate in the state's assembly elections.
The Binoculars Jibe
Addressing reporters, Poonawalla said, "Today I have brought binoculars because I am using them to look and see that it has been nine days. Where is the Chief Minister of Kerala? People voted saying they want a Chief Minister to be appointed, but even with binoculars, the Congress party's Chief Minister cannot be found."
The BJP spokesperson further quipped that INC now stood for 'I Need Confusion', contrasting the Congress's indecision with the BJP's swift government formation in West Bengal and Assam following recent elections.
Congress High Command in Consultations
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held discussions in New Delhi with the three principal contenders for the Kerala Chief Minister's post — party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan, and state president Sunny Joseph.
The meeting, which lasted over three hours on Saturday, was also attended by party observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik. Discussions were held both jointly and separately with the leaders, yet no announcement followed.
Kerala Election Results: A Landmark Win
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) registered a decisive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, ending a decade of rule by the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, while the LDF was reduced to just 35 seats.
The BJP won three Assembly constituencies in the state — Nemom, Kazhakuttam, and Chathannoor — marking a modest but symbolic foothold in a state it has long struggled to penetrate.
Why the Delay Matters
The Congress high command's inability to swiftly name a Chief Minister has drawn criticism beyond the BJP, with political observers noting that prolonged vacuum at the top can send signals of internal discord to voters who delivered a strong mandate. Notably, this is not the first time the Congress has faced public scrutiny over delayed leadership decisions in states where it holds a clear majority.
With cabinet formation pending and administrative decisions stalled, the coming days will be critical for the Congress to demonstrate that its Kerala win translates into effective governance — and not just a headline majority.
Point of View
But it points to a structural Congress problem: the high command model, where New Delhi decides state leadership, consistently produces these paralysis moments. A party that took 102 seats in Kerala should have had a succession framework ready on results night. The longer this drags, the more the narrative shifts from 'Congress wins Kerala' to 'Congress can't govern itself' — which is precisely the frame the BJP wants to set ahead of the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Congress not yet named a Kerala Chief Minister?
Congress has not announced a Chief Minister for Kerala because the party's high command is still consulting multiple senior leaders, including K.C. Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala, and V.D. Satheesan. Despite a meeting lasting over three hours in New Delhi on Saturday, attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, no final decision has been announced.
What were the Kerala Assembly election results?
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 102 of 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly elections, ending a decade of Left Democratic Front rule. The LDF was reduced to 35 seats, while the BJP won three constituencies — Nemom, Kazhakuttam, and Chathannoor.
Who are the main contenders for Kerala Chief Minister from Congress?
The three principal contenders are K.C. Venugopal, the party's general secretary (organisation), and senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan. State president Sunny Joseph was also part of the consultations with the high command.
What did BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla say about Congress?
Poonawalla said he had brought binoculars to find the Congress Chief Minister of Kerala, nine days after the election. He also said INC stood for 'I Need Confusion', contrasting Congress's indecision with the BJP's swift government formations in West Bengal and Assam.
How does Congress's Kerala delay compare to BJP's government formations?
BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla pointed out that the BJP had already formed governments and begun cabinet decisions in West Bengal and Assam, while Congress — holding a full majority in Kerala — had yet to name a Chief Minister nine days after the result.
