Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 15 (NationPress) After suffering a significant loss in Bihar, the Congress party seems to be embarking on a strategic overhaul in Kerala. The state leadership has come to a crucial realization: the party cannot continue its internal conflicts if it aims to regain power following two consecutive defeats in Assembly elections.

According to sources, senior leaders now recognize that if they do not put aside their internal disputes, the Congress risks remaining in the Opposition for a third consecutive term.

The party's organizational culture in Kerala has long been marked by factional divisions—from the days of K. Karunakaran and A.K. Antony, through the Oommen Chandy-Ramesh Chennithala factions, to the current split between Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan’s group and the opposing faction led by former state unit chief K. Sudhakaran.

Moreover, a powerful figure looms over both factions: K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary for Organisation, whose influence in the state unit is widely recognized.

The 2021 Assembly elections were pivotal, as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan achieved a historic second consecutive mandate for the LDF.

Since then, the Left has aggressively propagated the idea that Vijayan is set to secure a third term—a claim that Congress leaders privately acknowledge cannot be countered unless the party presents a unified front.

The recent defeat in Bihar has altered the dynamics.

As Congress’s national organizational secretary, Venugopal is perceived to have faced one of the most significant political setbacks.

A political analyst informed IANS that Venugopal, previously regarded as the most influential figure in Kerala’s Congress unit, will now undergo increased scrutiny.

"If the Congress had performed well, his power would have expanded further. For months, the message within the party was clear: if you are not aligned with Venugopal, you will face challenges. However, the Bihar defeat has shifted the atmosphere," the analyst remarked.

With the ongoing two-phase local body elections and Assembly elections approaching in April–May, leaders now perceive the Bihar outcome as a wake-up call.

Many believe this setback could turn out to be a 'blessing in disguise' for the Kerala unit, compelling conflicting factions to reflect, recalibrate, and ultimately strive for unity at a critical juncture for the party.